Two men who arranged for migrants to be smuggled into the UK have been convicted.

Myrteza Hilaj, 50, and Kreshnik Kadena, 37, both from Leyton, were part of an Albanian organised crime syndicate, the National Crime Agency (NCA) said. 

They arranged at least nine journeys in 2016 and 2017, three of which were via a light aircraft to an aerodrome in Essex.   

When the NCA intercepted a number of crossings from Europe in 2017 they found Hilaj’s number saved on the migrant's phones. 

Their investigation revealed the pair had charged Albanian migrants around £10,000 each to enter the UK, and then helped those individuals establish themselves in the country. 

The service included giving them counterfeit passports, ID cards and fake utility bills. 

On July 17, 2017, a planned flight was intercepted by French police and four migrants, including a child, were safeguarded. 

That same day Hilaj and Kadena were seen meeting for a “fallout” at a pub near their homes. 

Romford Recorder: Hilaj and Kadena pictured holding a pub fallout meetingHilaj and Kadena pictured holding a pub fallout meeting (Image: NCA)They were subsequently arrested at their homes. 

Kadena was found to have a security fob for the gate at Stapleford Airfield. 

On Friday (March 15) the pair were convicted of facilitation of illegal immigration at Snaresbrook Crown Court. 

Hilaj, of Leyton Green Road, and Kadena, of Beaumont Road, will be sentenced at the same court on May 17.