A people smuggler who laundered money through his networks has been jailed for eight years.

Iranian Asghar Gheshalghian, accepted money from migrants wishing to cross the channel in boats and then released the funds to the criminal gangs, all while charging commission.

The 48-year-old, who operated a rug company from an office block in Wood Green as a front for his criminal activities, was arrested by NCA officers in February 2021.

During a two-year investigation, phone evidence showed links with at least eight Iranian migrants who later arrived in the UK by boat or lorry and claimed asylum.

Investigators also obtained covert recordings of him talking to associates on the phone, admitting that “70-80% of our business is illegal”.

Officers also recovered ledgers outlining transactions, while financial investigators were able to evidence around £1.6 million in payments into his bank accounts.

Evidence was also obtained from an ITV documentary where undercover reporters approached a people smuggler in northern France, who discussed sending money through a broker called “Mr G” – Gheshalghian.

In other conversations he was heard bragging that people smuggling gangs trusted him to deal with financial transactions on their behalf.

He said: “They approve me, they know I won’t cheat on them, once the task is completed – money”.

Following his arrest, the NCA searched his business premises, a storage lock-up and his home in East Ham, seizing about £50,000 in cash.

Following a two-week trial at Southwark Crown Court, Gheshalghian was found guilty of five counts of money laundering and facilitating illegal immigration on January 18.

A judge at the same court today handed him an eight-year jail term.

NCA branch commander Mark Howes said: “By his own admission Asghar Gheshalghian was trusted by organised crime gangs to handle their payments and launder the money they made through organising dangerous Channel boat and lorry crossings.

“In doing so he enabled their criminality and happily took a cut from the profits they made from it.

“Crossing the Channel illegally in boats or lorries is extremely dangerous, sadly in recent weeks we have seen it can have fatal consequences.

“This is why disrupting and dismantling the gangs involved in organised immigration crime is a priority for the NCA.

“Targeting their financial flows through money launderers like Gheshalghian is just one of the ways we are doing that.”