Channel migrants: Man who piloted boat carrying 70 jailed

Howmalow Mawum-Duop piloted a vessel which was travelling to the UK from France and was carrying over 70 migrants

A man who piloted a boat carrying more than 70 migrants who were rescued off the Kent coast has been jailed.

Howmalow Mawum-Duop was spotted in control of the boat which was heading to the UK from northern France by UK Border Force officers on 26 September.

However, he attempted to move away from the tiller as they approached, the National Crime Agency (NCA) said.

The Sudanese national has been jailed for 18 months following an NCA investigation into people smuggling.

The NCA said the boat had earlier been involved in an incident on a French beach which led to the death of a woman who was thought to be trying to board it.

In an interview, Mawum-Duop said he left Sudan in February 2021 and passed through Chad, Libya, Tunisia and Italy on his way to France.

Despite originally arguing that he had not been in control of the vessel at any time, or asked for payment from any of the individuals aboard, he later pleaded guilty to facilitating illegal immigration, the NCA said.

'Highest priorities'

Mawum-Duop was sentenced to 18 months on Friday at Canterbury Crown Court.

The investigation into the death of the female migrant, which is being led by the French authorities, continues.

Kathryn Philpott, NCA senior investigating officer, said: "Tackling people smuggling is one of the highest priorities for the National Crime Agency, and we are determined that individuals who put other people's lives at risk in pursuit of profit are held accountable."