UK

Suspects arrested in international operation targeting people-smuggling gang

The operation targeted an Iraqi organised crime group suspected of smuggling people across the Channel to the UK, the National Crime Agency said.

Boat engines and lifejackets were sized as part of the operation
Boat engines and lifejackets were sized as part of the operation
By Rosie Shead, PA

The UK, France and Germany have taken part in a major investigation targeting a people-smuggling network believed to be moving people across the Channel, the National Crime Agency (NCA) has said.

The operation targeted an Iraqi organised crime group (OCG) suspected of being involved in smuggling people from France across the Channel to the UK in small boats, according to the NCA.

The network was involved in sourcing equipment for the crossings – including inflatable boats, engines and lifejackets – which would be stored in Germany before being transported to the Channel when needed, the agency said.

Around 500 German police officers carried out a series of raids in the North Rhine-Westphalia and Baden Wurttemberg regions on Wednesday, resulting in 13 arrests in Germany and France, while 21 boats and 24 engines were seized alongside life jackets, pumps and cash.

Items were seized in Germany and France during raids
Items were seized in Germany and France during raids

Some of those detained in Germany on December 4 are suspected of being senior members of the OCG and now face extradition to France, the NCA added.

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The investigation was led by French police with the UK’s NCA providing support, including supplying intelligence regarding the gang’s routings, the agency said.

Law enforcement partners from Belgium and the Netherlands were also involved in the operation.

NCA international regional manager Tom Outhwaite said: “The operation has demonstrated the benefits of working internationally to target these OCGs, and we are grateful to our French and German partners for what they have done.

“We believe the action undertaken here will have significantly degraded a people smuggling network impacting the UK, which has been directly responsible for putting lives at risk in boats on the Channel.

“Targeting, disrupting and dismantling these gangs remains a priority for the NCA, and we are devoting more resource to doing that than ever before.

“That includes additional officers working overseas in locations where criminal networks are active to assist on operations like this.”