"he was endangering the lives of others"
An Afghan migrant has become the first person convicted of endangering others during a sea crossing to the UK.
Tajik Mohammad pleaded guilty at Canterbury Crown Court to endangering others during a sea crossing. The offence was introduced in January 2026 under new legislation.
The 32-year-old had been piloting an overcrowded dinghy across the English Channel on January 17. Conditions were poor, and some passengers were not wearing life jackets.
The court heard Mohammad abandoned the vessel when a rescue ship arrived. Prosecutors said he left passengers behind before reaching the UK later that day.
He was arrested on arrival and will be sentenced on June 10.
The charge falls under the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Act. The law aims to prevent unsafe crossings and reduce overcrowding on small boats.
It also covers physical aggression, intimidation, and attempts to resist rescue efforts at sea.
Home Office sources previously described some crossings as “floating crime scenes”. They said reckless behaviour had led to deaths from crushes and drownings.
Those convicted face up to five years in prison. The maximum increases to six years for individuals breaching a deportation order.
Senior CPS prosecutor James Fisher said: “I’m pleased the CPS has secured the first conviction for endangering the lives of others during a Channel crossing since it became an offence in January.
“We will carry on using new laws to prosecute individuals and gangs who undermine UK border security.
“The Channel is one of the busiest shipping lanes in the world and we argued Tajik Mohammad abandoned the tiller on the arrival of the rescue ship.
“That, along with the boat being overcrowded, some passengers not wearing life jackets, the weather conditions that day, and that small boats are shoddily made, meant he was endangering the lives of others, which he’s accepted.”
A 16-year-old Afghan national was the first person charged under the law in January.
The boy denied endangering 46 people, telling a court hearing he was “forced to do so”.
Earlier in April 2026, another alleged dinghy pilot appeared in court following multiple deaths.
Sudanese national Alnour Mohamed Ali faced charges linked to an incident on April 9. Two men and two women died while attempting to board a boat.
The case was heard at Folkestone Magistrates’ Court, where Ali was charged with endangering life.
More than 6,000 people have crossed the Channel in small boats so far this year.
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