UK-based people smuggler jailed for 25 years over Mediterranean crossings

Ahmed Ebid, 42, helped bring nearly 3,800 people from Libya to Italy, some of whom made it to the UK

A people smuggler based in the UK who helped to ruthlessly and cynically" exploit people seeking asylum as part of a 12m Mediterranean operation has been jailed for 25 years.

Ahmed Ebid, 42, helped bring nearly 3,800 people, including women and children, on just seven fishing boat crossings from north Africa to Italy between October 2022 and June 2023, the National Crime Agency (NCA) said. Some eventually made it to the UK.