Skip to content
Quick exit
  • Cymraeg
  • Reporting SARs
Leading the UK's fight to cut serious and organised crime
  • Who we are
    • Our mission
    • Our people
    • Our leadership
    • Governance and transparency
    • Inclusion, diversity and equality
    • Publications
  • What we do
    • What we investigate
    • Border vulnerabilities
    • Bribery, corruption and sanctions evasion
    • Cyber crime
    • Child sexual abuse and exploitation
    • Drug trafficking
    • Illegal firearms
    • Fraud
    • Kidnap and extortion
    • Modern slavery and human trafficking
    • Money laundering and illicit finance
    • Organised immigration crime
    • Operation Stovewood: Rotherham child sexual abuse investigation
    • How we work
    • Intelligence: enhancing the picture of serious organised crime affecting the UK
    • Investigating and disrupting the highest risk serious and organised criminals
    • Providing specialist capabilities for law enforcement
    • Supporting victims and survivors
  • News
    • All news
  • Careers
    • How to join the NCA
    • Applying and onboarding
    • Current vacancies
    • A day in the life
    • Benefits and support
  • Most Wanted
  • Contact us
    • Verify an NCA Officer
    • Complaints
  • Home >
  • News >
  • Six arrests and boat seized in investigation into cross-Channel people smuggling

Share this page:

Share this page:

News

Six arrests and boat seized in investigation into cross-Channel people smuggling

  • Organised immigration crime

Six people have been arrested in Kent and London as part of a National Crime Agency investigation into a suspected organised crime group conspiring to smuggle migrants across the Channel in lorries and small boats.

13 September 2019Seized boat
The six, all British men aged between 43 and 59, were arrested between Wednesday 11 and Friday 13 September in the Chingford and Folkestone areas for conspiring to facilitate illegal immigration into the UK.

These arrests are connected with the recovery of 12 migrants recovered from the rear of a lorry in West London on Saturday 7 September.

Following searches and interviews, five have now been released under investigation and one bailed pending further enquiries.

A significant amount of cash has been recovered, and a number of vehicles seized, including a boat.

NCA regional head of investigations Andrea Wilson said:

“This is a significant moment in what has been a complex investigation, and we believe our action over the last few days will have significantly disrupted a crime network intent on smuggling migrants across the Channel illegally.

“We know people smugglers display a complete lack of regard for human life, and are happy to put the people they treat as nothing more than a commodity in dangerous situations in small boats or in the backs of lorries.

“This is why disrupting such groups remains an operational priority for the NCA and our law enforcement partners.

“I would like to acknowledge and thank Kent Police, and Immigration Enforcement for their support to this investigation, which continues.”

Latest from twitter

Share this page:

TOP ˄
0370 496 7622
NCA general enquiries or to verify an NCA officer, available 24/7
Click CEOP logo: Advice, Help, Report
  • Who we are

  • Our mission
  • What we do

  • How we investigate
  • How we work
  • News

  • Most wanted

  • Careers

  • A day in the life
  • Current vacancies
  • Contact us

  • Operation Stovewood
  • Suspicious activity reports
  • Verify an NCA officer
  • Complaints

Follow us

  • Sitemap
  • Privacy and Cookie Policy
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Publications
  • Accessibility statement
© Crown Copyright
© Crown Copyright