A major international people smuggling kingpin, who supplied the rubber dinghies used in thousands of dangerous Channel crossings, has been sentenced to 11 years in prison following his dramatic arrest on the way to a boat show.
The Arrest and Conviction
Adem Savas, a 45-year-old Turkish national, was jailed in Belgium on Wednesday 7th January 2026 after being convicted of people smuggling and membership of an organised crime group. His downfall came when he flew into Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport on 13th November 2024, intending to visit a marine equipment exhibition. He was detained there following a lengthy international investigation.
Savas admitted to the charges at a court hearing in Bruges on 3rd December 2025. The same court handed down an 11-year prison sentence and imposed a hefty fine of 400,000 euros. Three of his co-defendants received combined sentences totalling 38 years.
A Key Supplier to Smuggling Networks
Investigators believe Savas operated as the principal supplier of boats and outboard engines to gangs organising perilous journeys across the English Channel from 2019 until his arrest. The National Crime Agency (NCA) assesses that his equipment was used in thousands of small boat crossings, accounting for around half of all such attempts in 2023.
Rob Jones, the NCA's Director General of Operations, stated: “He pretended to run a legitimate maritime supply company, but in reality he knew exactly how the equipment he provided would be used. He also knew exactly how unsuitable it was for long sea crossings.”
Savas specialised in importing cheap 'Parsun' outboard engines from China, which were favoured by the smuggling networks. He transported them overland from Turkey through Bulgaria and into Germany for storage, before final distribution via a Dutch haulage firm.
Links to Fatalities and a Wider Network
The NCA confirmed that boats and engines supplied by Savas were likely involved in numerous fatal incidents in the Channel, including the tragedy in November 2021 where 27 migrants died. Evidence showed that Kurdish crime boss Hewa Rahimpur, a major client of Savas, sent him images of a boat identical to one used in that fatal crossing.
Savas was initially identified by the NCA during an investigation into Rahimpur, who was himself arrested in Ilford, east London, in 2022. Rahimpur was extradited to Belgium, convicted, and jailed for 11 years in October 2023, later increased to 13 years on appeal.
Analysis of devices seized from Rahimpur revealed Savas as his key supplier. Charging an average of £4,000 per boat and engine package, Savas is believed to have made millions from his criminal enterprise.
Minister for Border Security and Asylum, Alex Norris, said: “We are cracking down on the criminals exchanging human lives for cash. Our brilliant National Crime Agency officers have worked alongside international allies to take down this smuggling kingpin.”
The successful operation was jointly coordinated through a Europol Operational Task Force and a Joint Investigation Team facilitated by Eurojust, highlighting the crucial role of international law enforcement cooperation in tackling organised immigration crime.
