In a bizarre and futile attempt to disguise their illicit activities, members of an international human trafficking network employed the term ‘chickens’ to refer to illegal migrants. This odd choice of code word came to light following the arrest of Ramal Briem, a member of the group based in the UK.

Briem was apprehended at his Wolverhampton residence after he was caught negotiating a dubious ’11 for the price of 10′ deal with an associate. This transaction highlighted the dehumanizing language they used, with one accomplice informing Briem that ‘one chicken costs £1,500’.

The Iraqi national, who had himself entered the UK illegally via a small boat in 2020 and sought asylum, admitted his involvement in the criminal operation. He pled guilty to collaborating with an organized crime gang, facilitating the illegal entry of Vietnamese nationals into the UK. As a result, Briem has been sentenced to 10 years and two months in prison.

According to a spokesperson from the National Crime Agency (NCA), Briem is suspected of aiding hundreds of migrants in their perilous journey from northern France to Britain. These crossings were conducted either by small boats or by concealing migrants in lorries, underscoring the dangerous and illegal practices of the trafficking ring.

The criminal had himself arrived in Britain illegally by small boat in late 2020, and claimed asylum.

He is then thought to have helped hundreds of migrants cross from northern France to Britain, either by small boat or stowed away in lorries, a National Crime Agency (NCA) spokesman said.

Messages on Briem’s phone showed he and another gangster, identified only as ‘Kevin’, had discussed the movement of migrants waiting for illegal Channel crossings in France, referring to them as ‘chickens’.

Ramal Briem, 33, an Iraqi who arrived in Britain by small boat in 2020, has been jailed for just over 10 years for his role in a migrant-smuggling ring

In one exchange, the pair discussed fees for transporting migrants and agreeing on a fee of 11 for the price of 10.

In one message ‘Kevin’ said: ‘If possible, 1 chicken costs 1,500 pounds. I’ll give it all to you.’

Briem replied: ‘Yes 1500. Give it to me.’

‘Kevin’ went on: ‘Ok I’ll give you the chicken. Currently I have over 30 chickens in Dunkerque. I need them to finish this time. And next time I have a new chicken I will give it to you.’

Briem responded: ‘Ok. Next time I need all your chicken.’

‘Kevin’ was also arrested by the NCA in April 2024 and is undergoing extradition proceedings to France for alleged immigration, drug and modern slavery offences.

Prosecutors said the group would bring Vietnamese migrants to eastern Europe on work visas before moving them to France to board small boats to come to the UK.

When they arrived here other members of the gang would help them disappear within the Vietnamese community.

Briem, 33, was arrested in his dressing gown by NCA officers at his home in July 2024.

An NCA spokesman said Briem had helped to arrange a ‘lorry drop’ of six clandestine migrants to Burton-on-Trent, Staffs, in March 2024.

Briem also admitted visiting a number of addresses in Croydon and Birmingham to collect large sums of cash which he later gave to an unknown man in a car.

He pleaded guilty to a charge of conspiracy to assist unlawful immigration at Wolverhampton Crown Court in October 2024.

He was sentenced to 10 years and two months imprisonment at Worcester Crown Court today.

NCA branch commander Saju Sasikumar said: ‘The language Ramal Briem used to describe people illustrates his complete disregard for human life.

‘To him, migrants were nothing more than a commodity to trade in, regardless of the severe risks they were taking during these dangerous journeys, all for his own financial benefit.

‘The migrants themselves may have wanted to come to the UK to establish a better life for themselves and their families.

‘But the fact they chose to use smugglers like Briem to enter the UK clandestinely automatically put them at a far greater risk of being embroiled in debt bondage or modern slavery situations.’

Border security and asylum minister Alex Norris said: ‘We are cracking down on the vile smugglers abusing UK borders.

‘This government is bolstering law enforcement powers so officers can intercept, detain and arrest people smugglers faster and restore order and control to our borders.’