The last member of a people smuggling gang who kept a boat in Brightlingsea has been sent to prison for five years and four months after being extradited back to the UK.
Albanian Arsen Feci, 49, from Nottingham (pictured below) was on bail when he went on the run to Spain two years ago to avoid standing trial for people smuggling offences. He was brought back to the UK in November 2024 and this week pleaded guilty to assisting unlawful immigration to the UK at Nottingham Crown Court.
National Crime Agency officers started an investigation into Feci and his organised crime group after a coastguard plane saw migrants being offloaded from a rigid inflatable boat (RIB), named Orca, in Joss Bay, Kent in the early hours of October 9, 2022.
Feci, alongside Banet Tershana, Klodian Shenaj, Jetmir Myrtaj and British national Desmond Rice, used the same location for a second crossing two weeks later.
Feci was in constant contact with Shenaj and Rice, meeting Rice on October 12 as he arranged to buy a second RHIB named Aquaholic. Rice then transported the boat from Poole to Brightlingsea Marina.
Investigators found Feci was responsible for purchasing equipment for the crossing, with CCTV showing him purchasing maintenance items from Halfords (pictured below) and sourcing ‘staff’ to carry out the crossings.
On 22 October, Feci was under surveillance as he travelled back to Brightlingsea with Rice and Shenaj. The gang was having issues with the seaworthiness of the boat, however, which appeared to delay their attempts and the boat was moored away from the main marina.
Feci was in conversation with Shenaj and Rice. He purchased an inflatable kayak, two paddles and a pump in Nottingham before travelling to London to meet Tershana and then travelling to Brightlingsea. The kayak was taken to the marina by Rice and supplied to two men so they could access the Aquaholic.
As the boat began its journey to Belgium on October 29, NCA officers were watching and tipped off the Belgian Police who intercepted it as it landed on the coast near Nieuwpoort early the next day.
The two crew, aged 35 and 45, were arrested as they attempted to load 12 migrants, including a woman and child, into the boat. Examination of the RHIB showed the six life jackets available were unsuitable for use at sea. These men were prosecuted in Belgium and sentenced to six years imprisonment each.
Rice was arrested later that same day and a kayak was found in the back of his van, identical to the one bought by Feci days earlier.
Shenaj and Feci were arrested in Broxtowe Street, Nottingham on November 29 2022. He was rearrested in February 2023 after evidence of Feci’s involvement with Myrtaj and Tershana was uncovered. He answered no comment to questions put to him by NCA officers.
Feci was bailed after a Nottingham Crown Court hearing in March 2023. He fled to Spain and remained on the run until August 2024 when he was re-arrested. Tershana, Shenaj, Myrtaj and Rice were convicted and sentenced for the same offences in August 2023.
NCA Branch Commander Derek Evans said: “Feci is the final piece of the puzzle in this organised people smuggling group, taking migrants on dangerous journeys across the Channel and undoubtedly making significant money as a result.
“While he may have tried to distance himself by not being involved in the purchase of the boat, he was integral in finding people to pilot the vessel and buying equipment to ensure the crossings were a success.
“Feci thought he could avoid justice by fleeing to Spain but our international reach and assistance from partners saw him brought back to the UK where he pleaded guilty to the charges against him.
“Tackling organised immigration crime is an NCA priority and we will continue to target people smugglers like Feci and his group working both in the UK and overseas.”
• Original article supplied by National Crime Agency
