Sue Mitchell

Two Leicester-area mini-marts linked to convicted people smuggler Twana Jamal were shut down after a BBC investigation documented him working illegally, using a false identity and operating next to a local MP’s office. Jamal, previously jailed in France for large‑scale smuggling, is believed to be seeking asylum in the UK despite rules barring applicants with significant foreign convictions. Local councillors had earlier reported the shops for illegal vape sales, prompting renewed scrutiny after the BBC’s findings. Authorities are now pursuing a longer closure order as police conduct additional patrols. The case highlights weaknesses in post‑Brexit criminal record checks and aligns with broader findings that numerous convicted smugglers are residing in the UK despite security screening requirements.