A 42-year-old Iraqi national has been arrested in Ashford, Kent, as part of an ongoing National Crime Agency (NCA) investigation into organised people smuggling between the UK and France.
The man was detained at a residential property on the afternoon of 28 August. Authorities believe he played a key role in facilitating the illegal movement of migrants, both leaving the UK and entering it.
The arrest follows surveillance at an industrial site in Ashford, where NCA officers observed a group of migrants in the vicinity of several heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) and two individuals under suspicion.
NCA Branch Commander Sara-Jayne Moore commented on the operation, saying:
“This arrest is a significant development in our wider investigation into an organised network involved in smuggling people in both directions across the Channel. These criminal groups put lives at risk every day, whether by hiding people in lorries or arranging dangerous crossings by boat—all for profit.
“Some individuals being smuggled out of the UK may be attempting to evade law enforcement, bypass French immigration controls, or may even be victims of trafficking and exploitation. Regardless of the direction of travel, the risks to human life and border security are the same.
“This case is one of 96 active investigations we are pursuing into high-level people smuggling operations, which remains a top priority for the NCA.”
The suspect is currently in custody and will be interviewed by NCA officers as inquiries continue.