People Smuggler Jailed for 25 Years After £12m Operation

A major people-smuggling operation has been disrupted with the arrest and conviction of Ahmed Ebid, an Egyptian national living in London. Ebid was sentenced to 25 years in prison for orchestrating seven boat crossings from Libya to Italy, carrying almost 4,000 migrants. The National Crime Agency (NCA) investigation uncovered a sophisticated operation, using social media ads to recruit migrants and charging each around £3,000. "Tell them guys anyone caught with a phone will be killed, thrown in the sea," Ebid was heard saying in an intercepted call. Jacque Beer of the NCA stated the operation was "inhumane" and driven solely by profit. The crossings used small fishing boats, far exceeding their capacity, highlighting the dangerous conditions faced by the migrants. This successful prosecution demonstrates the NCA's commitment to tackling organized crime and protecting vulnerable individuals.