Sudanese people-smuggler is jailed 18 months after he was caught piloting a dinghy involved in the death of a Channel migrant

A Sudanese people smuggler, who was involved in the death of an asylum seeker on a French beach, has been jailed for 18 months after his boat was intercepted off the Kent coast.

Howmalow Mawum-Duop was carrying 70 migrants in an inflatable dinghy last September when Border Force officials, who had been alerted that the vessel had left the coast of Sangatte, northern France, stopped him just miles away from British land.

Earlier that day, a female migrant had died while trying to board the packed rigid hulled inflatable boat (RHIB) on a French beach.

Now the 22-year-old people smuggler faces 18 months in jail after he pleaded guilty to facilitating illegal immigration. 

Mawum-Duop was spotted by officials driving the dinghy and wearing a bright green hoodie.

Howmalow Mawum-Duop (pictured), 22, had 70 migrants in his inflatable dinghy last September when Border Force officials, who had been told the vessel had left the coast of Sangatte, northern France, stopped him just miles away from the Kent coast

Earlier that day, a female migrant had died while trying to get onto the crammed rigid hulled inflatable boat (RHIB) on a French beach (pictured: migrants attempting to cross the English Channel near the Dover Strait)

This comes just days after Home Office figures showed that the number of migrants crossing the Channel is up 13% compared with this time last year (Stock Photo)

The people smuggler then switched off the engine and tried to move away from the tiller as a Border Force boat came towards him.

Due to his distinctive clothing, the individual was later identified. 

The Sudanese man was arrested by National Crime Agency officials, who had been in contact with the Border Force as well as French authorities, and charged with immigration offences.

Mawum-Duop told officials that he had passed through Chad, Libya, Tunisia and Italy on his way to France having left Sudan in February 2021.

The people smuggler initially claimed that he had neither been in control of the boat filled with migrants nor had he asked for payment from anyone on board but later pleaded guilty and was sentenced to a year and a half in prison at Canterbury Crown Court in Kent on Friday.

The investigation into the death of the female migrant before Mawum-Duop’s arrest continues and is being conducted by French authorities.

NCA Senior Investigating Officer Kathryn Philpott said: ‘Tackling people smuggling is one of the highest priorities for the National Crime Agency, and we are determined that individuals who put other people’s lives at risk in pursuit of profit are held accountable.

‘Working closely with our partners in France, we were able to stop this boat off the coast of England, safeguard those aboard and ensure that Mawum-Duop was brought to justice.’

This comes just days after Home Office figures showed that the number of migrants crossing the Channel is up 13% compared with this time last year.

During the first 31 days of 2024, a total of 1,335 migrants successfully crossed the Channel, despite almost constant storms and poor weather conditions – a 13 per cent increase over the same period last year.

This is the equivalent of 52 people making the journey every day. 

Back in 2018, only 299 migrants crossed the Channel in small boats all year.

Last month saw a 13 per cent increase in the number of migrants crossing in small boats compared with 2023 (pictured: group of people thought to be migrants brought in to Dover on January 31)

Some 1,335 migrants have successfully crossed the Channel so far in 2024, the Home Office have confirmed (pictured: group of people thought to be migrants brought in to Dover on January 31)

A Home Office spokesperson said: ‘Our priority is to stop the boats, which is why we have taken robust action to crackdown on vile people smuggling gangs, deter migrants from making dangerous crossings and, alongside our French counterparts, intercept vessels.

‘This relentless action reduced crossings by 36 per cent last year, which saw similar weather conditions to 2022, and more than 26,000 attempts were prevented.

‘The fact we have seen three devastating fatal incidents in three months highlights the unacceptable risks that migrants and criminal gangs are running in pursuing these dangerous, illegal and unnecessary crossing attempts.’