cowboy pilots flying N reg aircraft on illegal charters that cannot be stopped by the CAA?
But they CAN be stopped by the CAA.
The fact that an aircraft is on the N register does not exempt the pilot from the law or regulations of the country in which it is used.
As regards the pilot it is the same. The rules applying to my FAA licence make that crystal clear: in fact it says that where the UK regulations differ from the FAA regs, the more restrictive regs apply.
All that said: I agree entirely that those arranging or flying the type of illegal charter that this flight appears to have been should be prosecuted to the full extent of the law and have exemplary penalties imposed whatever reg aircraft they use.