The National Crime Agency (NCA) has apprehended three alleged members of an Albanian organized crime group that facilitated the illegal entry of numerous immigrants into the UK. On Monday, the suspected leaders of the group, a 34-year-old man from Grays, Essex, and a 34-year-old man from Dagenham, London, were arrested. The group is believed to have used small boats and HGV transfers to bring immigrants into the country. It is reported that the crime ring charged immigrants between £2,500 and £7,500 for crossing into the UK. In one instance, 46 immigrants were intercepted in August of last year after leaving the French coast on a small boat. Most of these immigrants were Albanian nationals, including young children and a convicted rapist who had previously been deported from Britain. The NCA has identified three more events connected to this organized crime group, involving HGVs transporting migrants to Surrey and Essex. A Belgian lorry driver was arrested on Monday in Folkestone, Kent, and two other men were apprehended in north London. The NCA’s director of threat leadership, Chris Farrimond, emphasized the agency’s commitment to tackling organized immigration crime, with over 90 ongoing investigations into networks both in the UK and abroad.
In response to the high numbers of small boat arrivals in the UK, the government launched the Border Force’s Small Boats Operational Command (SBOC) on January 31. The SBOC aims to curtail these illegal crossings by recruiting additional staff and utilizing drones, radar, and cameras to monitor vessels on the water. In 2022, over 45,000 people arrived in the UK by small boats, with the majority crossing between August and October. The government spokesperson stated that the large number of people risking their lives to reach the UK illegally is unsustainable and unacceptable. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak claimed that since the government implemented measures to address illegal immigration, there has been a 20% decrease in small boat crossings compared to 2022. The UK government also signed an agreement on illegal immigration with Albania, resulting in the return of over 1,000 Albanian nationals.
To reduce accommodation costs, the government plans to house illegal immigrants on barges and alternative sites instead of hotels. This policy has faced criticism from figures such as Mayor of London Sadiq Khan, who raises concerns about the safety, health, and well-being of individuals fleeing dire circumstances.