Key facts
- Two mini-marts in Leicestershire linked to convicted people smuggler Twana Jamal have been closed by the local council.
- The shops, named Candy Corner, were shut for 72 hours under anti-social behaviour laws.
- Twana Jamal was previously convicted in France for people smuggling and sentenced to five years in prison.
- Jamal is reportedly seeking asylum in the UK and has claimed to be making "good money" and facing no repercussions.
- Local residents had made multiple reports to authorities regarding issues at the mini-marts.
- The case highlights concerns about the UK's ability to check criminal records of asylum seekers from overseas.
Two mini-marts in Leicestershire, UK, linked to a convicted people smuggler have been closed by the local council following a BBC investigation. The shops, both named Candy Corner, were shut for 72 hours under anti-social behaviour laws, with an application for a three-month closure to be heard in court on July 6.
Twana Jamal, who was described as "the godfather" of migrant camps in northern France and received a five-year prison sentence in 2016 for people smuggling, was confronted by BBC reporters while running one of the stores in Blaby. He is believed to be seeking asylum in the UK and told the BBC he was "still waiting" for his application to be processed.
Local residents had reported concerns about the sale of illegal vapes and other issues at the shops. Leicestershire County Council stated it works with partners to tackle high street crime and acts on intelligence received.
Alberto Costa, the local MP, called Jamal's actions "utterly unacceptable" and stated the man should not be in the UK. He has contacted Leicestershire Police and the Home Office regarding the findings. Leicestershire Police confirmed they are working with the local authority and will have patrols in place.
The case raises serious concerns about the effectiveness of UK border controls in checking asylum seekers with serious overseas criminal convictions. Immigration officers have indicated that post-Brexit, checking foreign criminal records has become more difficult. The Home Office stated that all asylum claimants undergo mandatory security checks and that agreements exist for criminal record information sharing.