Who is Adem Savas and why was he jailed?

Adem Savas was jailed for 11 years for aggravated human smuggling, having supplied boats for migrant crossings.

How much money did Adem Savas make from smuggling operations?

Investigators believe Adem Savas made millions, with at least £1.7 million in assets traced.

Home / Crime and Justice / 'King of Transport' jailed for Channel migrant deaths

'King of Transport' jailed for Channel migrant deaths

Q: What role did Adem Savas play in Channel migrant crossings?

Savas was the largest supplier of small boats, engines, and lifejackets to criminal gangs involved in Channel crossings.

7 Jan

•

Summary

Adem Savas supplied half of all boats used in Channel crossings.
He made millions from selling flimsy boats and engines to gangs.
His shoddy equipment is linked to numerous migrant deaths.

'King of Transport' jailed for Channel migrant deaths

Adem Savas, known as the 'King of Transport', has been sentenced to 11 years in prison for his role in human smuggling. He was identified as Britain's most wanted man for operating as the primary supplier of small boats, engines, and lifejackets to criminal gangs involved in English Channel migrant crossings.

Operating for a decade, Savas sourced cheap equipment from China and sold it for profit, with his business activities generating millions. Investigators traced at least £1.7 million in assets, including property and luxury cars in Istanbul. His operations, which began as early as 2015, involved a complex supply chain stretching across Europe.

An international effort involving law enforcement agencies from the UK, Belgium, and the Netherlands led to Savas's arrest at Schiphol Airport in November 2024. Authorities believe his substandard equipment was responsible for numerous migrant deaths during perilous Channel journeys.