Latest news with #illegalCrossings
Daily Mail
25-06-2025
- Daily Mail
Three Albanians and a Moldovan woman are arrested in dawn raids targeting people smuggling ring 'who advertised illegal crossings on social media'
Four people have been arrested amid dawn raids targeting an alleged people smuggling gang said to have advertised illegal crossings from France on social media. Three Albanian men and a woman from Moldova were detained on suspicion of immigration offences as part of a National Crime Agency investigation into the group. They are also suspected of picking up illegal migrants from HGV stops in Kent and taking them to London. A 31-year-old man was arrested in Edmonton, north London, a 29-year-old man in Enfield and a 30-year-old man near Gatwick Airport on Wednesday. The 33-year-old woman was arrested in Leyton. Their arrests follow the conviction of a lorry driver earlier this year, prosecuted after Border Force officers found an illegal migrant hiding in a vehicle stopped at Dover in February. Officials from the NCA, Metropolitan Police and Home Office also visited five cafes in Walthamstow, Chingford and Dagenham, east London and other businesses thought to have been used by members of the smuggling gang. Separately, two people were arrested for immigration offences in Edmonton, while another individual was arrested by police for failing to appear at court. Five cafes in Walthamstow, Chingford and Dagenham, east London and other businesses thought to have been used by members of the smuggling gang were also visited NCA Branch Commander Adam Berry said: 'Tackling organised immigration crime remains a priority for the NCA, and the arrests carried out by my officers today are the result of an investigation into a gang we suspect of advertising and orchestrating HGV crossings from France. 'These types of illegal crossings, whether by boat or in HGVs, risk the lives of those being transported and threaten the UK's border security, which is why targeting the organisers behind them is so important for us. 'Working with law enforcement and Government partners we are determined to do all we can to target, disrupt and dismantle the criminal networks involved in people smuggling. 'These arrests and further operations with partners to visit premises across east London show that in action.' The NCA said more than 8,000 social media accounts used by people smugglers were taken down in 2024. It currently has around 80 investigations into illegal migration gangs.
The Sun
29-05-2025
- General
- The Sun
Foreign lorry drivers forced to plaster vans with signs to deter migrants trying to sneak into soft touch Britain
FOREIGN lorries are being plastered with stickers saying they do not go to the UK — to deter migrants from trying to sneak on board. HGV drivers who operate only in Europe put up the notices to warn there is no chance of a free ride across the Channel. One truck in Latvia — 900 miles from Calais — was spotted with the black and yellow signs declaring: 'We don't go to UK.' The warning was repeated underneath in French, amid a rise in attempted illegal lorry crossings. Other Europe-only hauliers are also using the signs on their fleets. But some migrants still sneak on board, only to find themselves still in mainland Europe when they get off. A source said: 'The fact they have to tell migrants they aren't going to the UK shows exactly how in-demand Britain is as a destination. "They know the UK gives them the best treatment and will stop at nothing to come over.' Figures show there were 5,874 detections of illegal immigrants at ports on the continent, including Calais, Dunkirk and the Channel Tunnel in Coquelles. It is a rise of 22 per cent compared with 4,794 in 2023. While migrants crossing the Channel are easily recorded, lorry stowaways may reach the UK undetected. Many go on to obtain illegal cash-in-hand work or claim asylum and be housed in a hotel. The Sun watches as hundreds of illegal migrants arrive at Dover 2
BBC News
20-05-2025
- BBC News
Man who helped smuggle more than 3,000 people into Europe jailed
A UK-based people smuggler who helped organise the movement of more than 3,000 migrants as part of a £12 million illegal boat crossing operation has been jailed for 25 Ahmed Ebid, 42, of south west London, was involved in smuggling nearly 3,800 migrants on fishing boat crossings from North Africa to Italy between October 2022 and June 2023 and some of them made their way to Britain, the National Crime Agency (NCA) is believed Ebid is the first person convicted of organising boat crossings across the Mediterranean from the UK. This breaking news story is being updated and more details will be published shortly. Please refresh the page for the fullest can receive Breaking News on a smartphone or tablet via the BBC News App. You can also follow @BBCBreaking on X to get the latest alerts.
