Four arrested in Midlands following people smuggling investigation

At approximately 6am today (8 July) officers from Immigration Enforcement’s Criminal and Financial Investigation (CFI) team executed warrants at six addresses – two in Birmingham, two in Leicester and one in both Coventry and Telford.

The arrests relate to an investigation into attempts to smuggle people into the UK hidden in the rear storage area of vans. Between June and September, 2018, Border Force officers at the juxtaposed controls in northern France prevented three such attempts involving a total of 18 Iraqi nationals. The Iraqis were referred to the Police Aux Frontieres for their cases to be dealt with.

Minister for Immigration Compliance and the Courts Chris Philp said:

These arrests were made as part of an ongoing investigation into a suspected organised crime group involved in people smuggling. We believe that the arrests made today will have significantly disrupted the group’s activities. “People smuggling is an abhorrent crime that treats migrants as human cargo to be profited from. We are determined to do all we can to dismantle the criminal networks involved in illegal immigration.

All those encountered were arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to assist unlawful immigration. They included a 37 year old man at Harold Street, Leicester; a 42 year old man at Althorp Close, Leicester; a 50 year old man at Wiseman Grove, Birmingham and a 39 year old man at Wealdstone in Telford.

The Immigration Enforcement investigation continues with the evidence gathered today.