Ahmed Ebid, a 42-year-old man based in the UK, has been sentenced to 25 years in prison for his involvement in a large-scale migrant smuggling operation. Ebid, originally from Egypt, helped organize the movement of nearly 3,800 migrants from North Africa to Italy between October 2022 and June 2023, some of whom eventually made their way to Britain. The illegal operation generated an estimated £12 million.
Ebid’s role in the smuggling network was significant. He bribed officials and even ordered threats of violence against the migrants, according to court testimony. The judge in the case described his actions as ruthless, emphasizing that the treatment of the migrants was horrifying and that the operation was purely commercial, with considerable risk to human life. Ebid had been living in Home Office-funded accommodation in south-west London at the time of his arrest.
The investigation leading to Ebid’s arrest began when Italian security services tracked satellite phones used by migrants on Mediterranean crossings. They discovered that some of the phones had also connected to a British mobile number, which the NCA linked to Ebid. The NCA then bugged his home to gather evidence. Ebid admitted to facilitating illegal immigration but downplayed his role. However, the NCA’s investigation revealed that he held a management position in the smuggling network.
