Two individuals, Tajik Mohammad and Alnour Ali, were sentenced for endangering others during a Channel crossing, marking the first prosecutions under a new offence that took effect in January as part of updated border security legislation.

Mohammad Tajik, 32, from Afghanistan, pled guilty in April and was sentenced to two years for a January voyage involving over 70 migrants, including children; authorities noted he had no experience piloting boats.

Ali, also known as Alnour Ali, 27, from Sudan, pleaded guilty to a dangerous April crossing with more than 70 people aboard and without safety equipment, receiving a 27-month prison sentence.

Sarah Dineley, head of immigration crime at the CPS, welcomed the convictions and signaled that more prosecutions are expected later this year.

The National Crime Agency said it is actively identifying and pursuing those responsible for small-boat crossings, stressing the dangers and perceived cruelty of organizers, with international cooperation highlighted.

The new offence targets unsafe overcrowding, physical aggression, intimidation, resistance to rescue, and injuries—physical or psychological—on journeys by sea to the UK from France, Belgium, and the Netherlands.

The offence carries a maximum penalty of up to five years in prison, rising to six years if a deportation order is breached.

Because both defendants received prison terms longer than 12 months, the Home Office will decide separately on their potential deportation from the UK.

Both defendants had applied for asylum in the UK.

Sentencing hearings for Mohammad and Ali began at 10:00 a.m. on the scheduled day.

Judges noted the dangers of navigating the busy English Channel in vessels not designed for such journeys, especially when overcrowded and lacking proper safety equipment.

Separately, two people drowned near Équihen-Plage, France, when attempting to board a dinghy in early April, an incident connected to but distinct from the main case.