Twenty-three arrests made in the UK in people smuggling investigations

Twenty-three arrests have been made around the UK as part of a series of ongoing investigations into suspected people smuggling into the UK.

The arrests, made between Wednesday 11 and Saturday 21 September, include 11 individuals who are suspected of facilitating illegal crossings of the Channel in small boats.

The arrest operations were conducted by officers from Immigration Enforcement’s Criminal and Financial Investigations (CFI) teams and the National Crime Agency (NCA).

The NCA has made 7 arrests related to small boat activity between Wednesday 11 September and Friday 20 September, bringing the total number of arrests of individuals suspected of involvement in people smuggling across the Channel to 11.

In addition, CFI officers arrested twelve suspected people smugglers at the UK’s juxtaposed controls in northern France between Monday 16 September and Friday 20 September, as a result of intelligence from Border Force. These individuals were arrested on suspicion of facilitating illegal entry into the UK in motor vehicles.

The investigations will now continue with the evidence gathered during these operations.

The UK continues to work closely at all levels with the French authorities to tackle illegal small boat crossings. Border Force cutters are patrolling the Channel and equipment including CCTV and night goggles have been deployed on the French coast.

Last month the Home Secretary and her French counterpart agreed to intensify joint action to tackle small boat crossings in the Channel. This includes drawing up an enhanced action plan to deploy more resources along the French coast to intercept and stop crossings.

Since January, more than 80 people who entered the UK illegally on small boats have been returned to Europe.