Ringleaders of Albanian criminal gang that allegedly smuggled migrants into UK arrested
An Albanian crime gang which brought migrants into the UK on small boats - and concealed in trucks - has been broken up
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An Albanian crime gang which is alleged to have brought migrants into the UK on small boats - and concealed in trucks - has been broken up by UK law enforcement officers.
Three members of the group, including the suspected ringleaders, were arrested early this morning by officers from the National Crime Agency.
NCA investigators believe the group have helped dozens of illegal migrants into the country, charging between £2,500 and £7,500 per journey.
Officers say the group’s illegal activities include bringing 46 migrants across the Channel from France in a small boat last August. The dinghy was intercepted in British waters.
Officers say the group’s illegal activities include bringing 46 migrants across the Channel from France in a small boat last August
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Those on board were mainly Albanian nationals, including young children.
One of those attempting to make the crossing was a convicted rapist who had previously been deported from the UK and has now been deported again.
Three further alleged people smuggling crimes - believed to be linked to the group involving an HGV - were identified by NCA officers in October and November 2022.
The lorry is believed to have travelled from Coquelles, France, on three separate occasions, stopping at service stations in Cobham and Thurrock to drop off migrants.
The HGV driver, a 55-year-old man from Belgium, was arrested when his lorry was stopped in Folkestone today.
Two other men – believed to the group’s ringleaders - were arrested on suspicion of unlawful entry to the UK at an address in North London.
Chris Farrimond, Director of Threat Leadership at the NCA, said: “We have dismantled a suspected organised crime group behind a number of dangerous migrant crossings last year.
“People smugglers do not care about the safety of those they transport, they seek to exploit them for profit.
Those on board were mainly Albanian nationals, including young children
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“Tackling organised immigration crime is a priority for the NCA and we have more than 90 ongoing investigations into networks based here and overseas causing the highest harm.
"As we target callous organised criminal gangs, we will not hesitate to also pursue HGV drivers complicit in helping them.”
The arrests come as latest figures show that nearly 10,500 illegal migrants have crossed the Channel in small boats since the start of the year.
An improvement in weather conditions has increased the rate of arrivals in the last couple of weeks. And Home Office figures show that nearly 1,200 people arrived over the past three days.