French court convicts 18 in a trial casting light on the deadly migrant smuggling trade

LILLE, France (AP) — A French court in Lille on Tuesday found 18 defendants guilty in a migrant smuggling trial linked to the dangerous English Channel crossings.

The group was charged after a 2022 police operation across Europe led to several arrests and the seizure of boats, life jackets and cash.

One of the ringleaders, from Iraq, was sentenced to 15 years in prison and fined 200,000 euros ($218,000). Most of the defendants were not in court for the sentencing. Some attended the...