Crammed into the boot of a Kia Sportage, with no space to move, two Afghan migrants attempted to reach the UK

Stuffed in the small boot of a Kia Sportage, two Afghan migrants attempted to make their way into the UK. Harrowing pictures show the size of the vehicle the two women were crammed inside, with hopes of eventually reaching the south of England.

The pair were wedged in the boot of the vehicle, which was being driven by pensioner Rashida Ayub, who lives in Wythenshawe.

But on January 29, 2017, as they attempted to make their way to the UK from Coquelles, France, they were rumbled by Border Force officers.

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They uncovered the two Afghan nationals who had been concealed in the boot. Ayub, of Devoke Road, Wythenshawe, was behind the wheel and was arrested at the scene.

An investigation into Ayub’s finances and mobile phone data led officers to identify Jumagaul Mohamadi, 57, and Wshiar Sarteep, 31, as further members of the people smuggling operation.

At trial, the jury found the three guilty of facilitating the commission of a breach of United Kingdom immigration law. All three were remanded into custody. The trial had been delayed twice due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

On Thursday (August 22), at Minshull Street Crown Court, all three were sentenced. Pensioner Rashida Ayub, 69, was jailed for four years.

Mohamadi, of Stockport Road, Manchester, was sentenced to three and a half years with Sarteep, of Brooklea Road, Manchester, jailed for 32 months.

The sentencing is the latest development in what the Home Office has described as an 'extensive investigation' into people smuggling routes into the UK.