Motorists 'recruited' by criminal gangs to smuggle migrants into UK face 'life-changing prison sentences'

It reported a spike in arrests in Kent where drivers were detained while attempting to board trains or ferries to France with people illegally in their vehicles.

The NCA stated that people smugglers were targeting drivers with thousands of pounds to transport people across the border among legitimate cargo.

Drivers have previously been caught assisting criminal organisations by loading people into their trucks.

Other occasions have seen drivers of heavy goods vehicles leave their vehicles unlocked in specific locations and "turning a blind eye" to migrants getting in.

Craig Turner, Deputy Director of Investigations at the NCA, said: "We know these crime gangs are actively trying to recruit drivers to work for them, promising them a supposedly low-risk way of making extra money.

"In fact, it is anything but. We have a number of operations investigating this type of criminality, and recent arrests have demonstrated that the chances of getting caught are high."

He noted that drivers who are caught helping criminal organisations could be slapped with a "life-changing prison sentence".

Mr Turner called on drivers in the haulage sector to immediately report any suspicious activity to the police or Crimestoppers.

The NCA has arrested nine lorry drivers in Kent for people smuggling offences between July and October, highlighting the extent of the problem.

It highlighted the case of Iona Monescu, 49, from Romania, who was sentenced to three years in prison after 44 Bangladeshi and Pakistani people were found in the back of his trailer.

Similarly, seven members of a people smuggling network were jailed for between seven and 13 years each for arranging crossings between the UK and France.

The case, which was finalised in mid-July, also saw five HGV drivers jailed for their roles in the operation.

Mr Turner continued, saying: "The criminal networks offering services to move people out of the UK illegally are often using the same drivers and methods to bring people in, which makes it more important that we take action against them.

"For them, this is a business, and like any other haulier they don't want to 'run empty' while returning to the continent."

The NCA first launched a campaign targeting the haulage industry in 2023 alongside the Border Force and Crimestoppers.

It currently has 100 open investigations into groups or individuals involved in the "top tier of this form of criminality".

Mr Turner clarified that the NCA was determined to "target, disrupt and dismantle" criminal organisations attempting to smuggle migrants into the country.