Two Ukrainian men who ran a yacht-based migrant smuggling operation across the English Channel have been jailed after authorities intercepted their vessel carrying five migrants to the UK. Authorities said the smugglers were driven solely by profit, charging tens of thousands of pounds for a so-called ‘luxury’ journey to the UK, which couldn’t be further from reality.
Two men who operated what investigators described as a “VIP” people-smuggling route across the English Channel using a private yacht have been sentenced to prison, according to a statement from the UK's National Crime Agency (NCA).
Ukrainian nationals Vladyslav C., 37, and Oleksandr Y., 43, were arrested during a law enforcement operation in July 2025 after authorities tracked their vessel into British waters, the NCA reported on March 12.
The investigation was led by the National Crime Agency after French officials alerted them that the yacht Uforia had departed from Le Havre, Normandy, in France. The notification came from investigators in Rouen acting under the authority of magistrates in Lille.
Specialist maritime officers later followed the yacht as it approached the UK coastline near the Isle of Wight. The vessel was intercepted at sea and escorted to Haslar Marina in Gosport, Hampshire.
On board were the two crew members along with five migrants, four Albanian men and a Vietnamese woman, who were being transported irregularly into the UK.
Authorities discovered that one of the men was already wanted in Britain after failing to appear in court over drug-related offences, suggesting he had previously entered the country unlawfully.
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'Luxury' crossing with a high price tag
Investigators later learned that migrants had been instructed to stay in a hotel in Fécamp, France, before being collected by the yacht. The vessel had travelled along the French coast from Le Havre on 20 July before picking them up.
Two migrants told officers they had paid large sums for the journey. One said they had paid 16,000 British pounds (18,500 euros for the crossing, while another stated they were expected to pay 13,000 pounds after reaching the UK.
The NCA, working alongside French gendarmerie and Home Office intelligence teams, also connected the yacht to multiple earlier suspected smuggling trips during 2024 and 2025.
Evidence showed the Uforia had repeatedly visited marinas along England’s south coast, including in Brighton, the NCA said.
In August 2024, the harbour master at Itchenor reported suspicious activity after the yacht arrived with six migrants on board. In another suspected journey in June 2025, the vessel left Fécamp with three migrants before heading toward the Chichester area.
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Officials warn smugglers will face prosecution
Vladyslav C., the yacht’s owner, and Oleksandr Y., who served as its skipper, were charged with facilitating illegal immigration.
Both men pleaded guilty at Portsmouth Crown Court on 14 November. On 12 March, a judge at the same court sentenced Vladyslav C. to six years in prison and Oleksandr Y. to five years. The court also ordered the seizure of the yacht.
"These men ran what can only be described as a kind of ferry service, moving small numbers of people over the channel each time, but charging them a premium price for the service, NCA Branch Commander Saju Sasikumar said of the case.
"They stood to make tens of thousands of pounds for each trip, but we were able to work with our French partners to stop this enterprise in its tracks.
"Targeting people smugglers like this remains a priority for the NCA, and we’re doing all we can to disrupt and dismantle the gangs involved, wherever they operate."
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Border Security Maritime Commander Charlie Eastaugh said the smugglers were driven solely by profit, charging tens of thousands of pounds for a ‘luxury’ journey to the UK, which couldn’t be further from reality.
"Thanks to the dedication of my teams and our close colleagues in France, who work around the clock, we were able to disrupt these criminals who were putting the UK's border at risk.
“Anyone considering getting involved in people trafficking should be in no doubt that they will face the full force of the law," Eastaugh said.
Tim Burton, a specialist prosecutor with the Crown Prosecution Service, added: "Cherniavskyi and Yavtushenko were effectively running an illegal migrant taxi service across the English Channel.
"Thanks to the National Crime Agency they were caught red handed and evidence shared by French authorities meant we were able to build an unanswerable case. Both knew very well they were bringing in people that had no right to enter the UK but did so anyway to make money."
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