A sophisticated smuggling operation is helping foreign criminals evade justice in Britain by spiriting them out of the country in lorries, a major investigation has revealed.
The 'Returns from England' Express Service
An Albanian fugitive, who should himself be behind bars, is running a brazen network that charges migrant criminals £2,500 for a 'stress-free' express service to France. The mastermind, who gave his name as Alfons, openly advertised his 'Returns from England' business on social media, guaranteeing 'passage 100 per cent secured'.
He boasted to an undercover Daily Mail reporter that his team of corrupt lorry drivers had already successfully trafficked at least 50 people across the Channel. 'I have taken 50 people out so far. No one has been caught yet,' he claimed. The service specifically targets individuals who 'commit crimes and want to go fast, fast, before entering the mouse hole [prison]'.
Exploiting Weak Outbound Border Checks
The smuggler explained that while lorries entering the UK face stringent checks, there are 'no checks' on vehicles leaving the country. This security loophole allows his operatives to hide fugitives in a dedicated compartment within lorries without fear of interception by sniffer dogs or border officials.
Alfons, who is now believed to be based in Belgium, started his operation after cutting off an ankle tag and fleeing the UK to avoid a prison sentence for his involvement in a cannabis factory. He told the reporter he was unconcerned about the crimes of his clients, stating he was happy to help even a wanted murderer escape justice. One individual he claimed to be assisting was facing 16 years in jail if captured.
A Growing Crisis of Criminal Migrants
This exposé comes amid heightened concerns about newly arrived small-boat migrants accused of serious offences. This month, two Afghan teenagers were jailed for the rape of a 15-year-old schoolgirl in Leamington Spa shortly after crossing the Channel. A separate audit found 11 other migrants were recently convicted for attacking women in Britain.
Official figures indicate there are more than 1,000 foreign criminals, including rapists, killers and terrorists, at large in the UK. The scale of illegal Channel crossings further compounds the issue, with a record 800 migrants arriving on small boats in a single day in December.
Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp responded fiercely to the investigation, stating: 'It looks like the Government can’t control who comes in or who leaves this country. This criminal gang is making a mockery of our border laws and allowing dangerous criminals to escape.' He demanded the smuggler be jailed and stressed that foreign criminals must be prosecuted and deported after serving their sentences.
The Home Office stated it applies targeted checks to outbound vehicles and that work with law enforcement has led to hundreds of arrests and convictions this year. The TikTok account used to advertise the smuggling service was removed prior to the Daily Mail seeking comment from the platform.
