Iraqi people smuggler charged £1,500 per migrant he called ‘chickens’

Iraqi people smuggler charged £1,500 per migrant he called ‘chickens’

An Iraqi national based in Wolverhampton charged £1,500 a head to smuggle migrants into Britain — referring to them as “chickens” in coded messages uncovered by police.

Ramal Briem, 33, was part of what prosecutors described as a “dangerous” organised crime network moving Vietnamese nationals across Europe and into the UK via small boat Channel crossings.

Wolverhampton Crown Court heard Briem was an “established people smuggler” who played a key role in transporting migrants from eastern Europe to northern France, where they would attempt the crossing from Dunkirk or Calais.

Ramal Briem

Smuggling route across Europe

Prosecutor Cathlyn Orchard said migrants were flown into countries such as Romania on work visas before being moved across Europe to makeshift camps — known as the “jungles” — on the French coast.

From there, they travelled by small boat to the UK, where they were placed in Home Office accommodation before allegedly being collected and disappearing into the Vietnamese community.

Police recovered a ledger containing more than 1,000 names.

Coded messages exposed

Messages between Briem and an associate known as “Kevin” revealed the scale of the operation.

In one exchange, Kevin asked: “Do you pick up chickens from Romania?”

Briem replied: “Tell me, any time bro, I come to help you.”

He told the accomplice he would charge £1,500 “per chicken” to bring them to the UK, even offering a bulk discount: “If you give me 20 chickens, two is free.”

The court heard Kevin at one point claimed to have “more than 30 chickens in Dunkirk” and discussed migrants in Romania and Hungary, with Briem allegedly arranging collections.

Organised crime links

Prosecutors said Briem worked with others and received “significant financial remuneration.” Both men were said to have employees working under them.

The alleged ringleader — believed to be Kevin — was arrested in April 2024 and is awaiting extradition to France under a European arrest warrant.

Evidence also linked a French phone number connected to the case to a lorry that entered the UK from the Netherlands. When it stopped in Staffordshire, male migrants fled from the back of the vehicle.

Defence rejected

Briem admitted conspiracy to assist unlawful immigration but claimed he believed he was involved in selling cigarettes.

The Crown Prosecution Service rejected that account, leading to a trial of issue earlier this week.

The father-of-children has been warned he faces a substantial prison sentence and could be deported following sentencing.

Key Takeaways

1. Briem charged £1,500 per migrant, referring to them as “chickens” in messages.

2. Migrants were allegedly moved from eastern Europe to France before small boat crossings.

3. Over 1,000 names were found in a seized ledger.

4. He faces a lengthy jail term and possible deportation.

SOURCE: EXPRESS