Migrant smuggling operation foiled as man arrested in organised crime crackdown
Investigators suspect the man was one of the organisers of the crossing
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A man has been arrested as part of an investigation into people smuggling across the Channel using a pleasure boat.
The 56-year-old was detained by National Crime Agency investigators at his home in the Harrow area of north west London this morning.
He is alleged to have been involved in an incident where a pleasure boat was used to transport at least ten migrants from Normandy in June 2022.
Investigators suspect he was one of the organisers of the crossing.
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The man was arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to facilitate illegal migration into the UK and remains in custody where he is being questioned by officers.
Another man, 58-year-old Tony Williams, from Lydford in Devon, was arrested in December 2022.
He has been charged in relation to the same incident and will appear at Exeter Crown Court on 30 October.
Andy Macgill, from the NCA, said: “This is an ongoing investigation following an incident last summer where we believe a pleasure boat was used to take migrants from Normandy to the Devon coast.
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“The NCA is working to target and disrupt organised crime groups involved in people smuggling at every step of the route, and by whatever means they operate.”
The latest arrest comes after asylum seekers were given the green light to return to the Bibby Stockholm barge following an outbreak of Legionella bacteria.
The bacteria, which can cause a serious lung infection (Legionnaire’s disease), was found in the water system of the barge.
None of the 39 migrants on board at the time were reported to have symptoms.
Today the Home Office confirmed the migrants would be rehomed on the barge “following the vessel completing all necessary tests”.
Migrants were told: “you will be required to move to alternative accommodation, and specifically, the Bibby Stockholm barge,” in a letter seen by the BBC.
It added that “this accommodation is offered on a no-choice basis”.
Additional reporting by Oliver Trapnell