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A man who smuggled asylum seekers into the UK has been jailed for three years and two months.

Mostafa Rabiei Lalehka, 31, from Cardiff , pleaded guilty to a string of counts after a collaborative investigation between South Wales Police's TARIAN’s Regional Intelligence Unit and Border Force.

He was sentenced on two counts of helping asylum seekers enter the United Kingdom and one count of attempting to facilitate the entry of an asylum seeker into the United Kingdom.

Money laundering

Lalehka was also sentenced over a charge of money laundering relating to more than £13,000 of unexplained credits to his account between October 2014 and April 2015.

In addition investigators discovered Lalehka facilitated the illegal entry of vulnerable Iranian females and children into the UK between October 12 and December 19, 2014.

Evidence was also found showing that he travelled on the same flights as these individuals from airports in Spain to various UK destinations.

Financial investigators revealed he paid for some of these flights to the UK.

This helped to identify a series of unexplained credits into his account which amounted to tens of thousands of pound, which is believed to be the proceeds of the crimes.

'Positive outcome'

Detective Inspector Simon Maal of the Regional Organised Crime Unit said: “This is a notable and positive outcome for the TARIAN Regional Organised Crime Unit, Border Force and the communities we serve. Organised immigration crime causes significant harm to the United Kingdom.

“The sentencing should send a clear message that those persons intent on committing such crimes will be held to account for their actions.

“TARIAN is committed to targeting organised criminals and I would like to take this opportunity to appeal to the public that if they have any information that can help us then please contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.”