Preston man charged with assisting people smuggling kingpin
He is expected before magistrates later today (11 April)
A man from Preston has been charged following a National Crime Agency investigation into people smuggling.
Iranian national Anjan Ahmadi, age 26, of Stafano Road, Preston, was originally arrested in July 2024 as part of an enquiry into the activities of Amanj Hasan Zada.
Zada, also of Stefano Road, was convicted of a series of people smuggling offences in November 2024, when he was sentenced to 17 years in prison.
The NCA were able to link him to a series of movements of migrants into the UK from France in late 2023.
Investigators believe he is part of the global people smuggling network moving migrants from the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI) into the UK and Europe.
Ahmadi, who is accused of working with Zada, has been remanded in custody and is expected to appear before Preston magistrates today (11 April).