A Home Office crackdown against people-smuggling gangs exploiting
the Common Travel Area (CTA) has led to the arrest of 35 people
in multiple locations across the UK and Ireland.
As the government continues its pursuit of the criminal groups
abusing UK borders on all fronts, Immigration Enforcement teams,
alongside police forces and other international partners,
descended on locations including Belfast, Scotland, Liverpool and
Manchester as part of a three-day operation.
Checks were conducted at major ports, airports, road networks and
private addresses across the country, targeting illegal migration
and disrupting smuggling routes.
This operation is the latest initiative in tighter law
enforcement cooperation to tackle the ruthless criminal gangs,
operating both in the UK and internationally, who exploit
vulnerable migrants, charging them thousands of pounds to enter
the UK illegally, luring them with false promises of a better
life.
During the operation, £5,000 of criminal cash, a car and two
fraudulent identity documents were seized. These documents, which
are critical tools used by people-smuggling gangs, enable them to
evade immigration controls. Created by criminal networks,
counterfeit documents allow migrants to bypass border checks,
trapping vulnerable people in further illegal activities. By
exploiting these people, the gangs not only profit but also place
them at risk of severe legal and personal consequences.
The multi-agency operation was led by Immigration Enforcement's
Criminal and Financial Investigations team (CFI), in partnership
with the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI), other UK
police forces, and An Garda Síochána.
This operation is part of a national effort to stop irregular
migration and human trafficking at key entry points across the
UK, as the government works to tackle people-smuggling gangs and
bring those exploiting vulnerable people to justice.
Minister for Border Security and Asylum, Dame , said:
“This government will not stand by as criminal gangs exploit
vulnerable people, giving them false hope of a better life in the
UK. Driven by greed, these gangs have no regard for human life or
safety, charging outrageous fees, preying on those desperate to
escape hardship, and forcing them into illegal and dangerous
situations.
“We are taking the fight to them on every front with our new
Border Security Command. Dismantling the business models of these
gangs does not just apply to the small boats trade – we are also
stamping out other routes into the UK to bring them to justice
and slash their profits.”
Home Office Immigration Enforcement Inspector, , said:
“The success of this operation is down the strength of our
partnerships with all the law enforcement agencies involved. Our
joint work sends a clear message that the criminals who break our
laws will face serious consequences.
“We are taking action to ensure we stay a step ahead of these
criminal groups, disrupting them at the earliest possible stage.
We will continue working closely with our partners in the UK and
Ireland to ensure no one abuses the Common Travel Area or the
UK's borders.
“I'm incredibly proud of our teams and partners across the
country, for their hard work and collaboration in carrying out
this important operation.”
