People smuggling network smashed as 23 are arrested in six countries

17 November 2009

Five men have been arrested in England and Scotland by SOCA officers as part of an investigation into the suspected smuggling of thousands of illegal immigrants into Europe. Simultaneous dawn raids in four other European countries resulted in a further 18 arrests - 13 in France, one in Italy, two in Greece and two in the Netherlands. A number of illegal immigrants were detained, six of them in the UK.

The men are believed to be part of an international criminal network responsible for smuggling around 2,000 illegal immigrants, mainly from Iraq and Afghanistan, into Europe including the UK. Each of the men is the subject of a European Arrest Warrant, the EU’s fast-track extradition scheme.

SOCA gathered intelligence on the five UK suspects and kept them under surveillance as part of a wider investigation which was led by the French agency OCRIEST, and supported by numerous law enforcement agencies as well as Europol.

The five men are a 40-year-old from Alum Rock, Birmingham, a 21-year-old from Gloucester, a 29-year-old from Thealby Law, Leeds, a 38-year-old from Sighthill, Glasgow, and a 24 year old from Edgely, Stockport. They appeared at extradition courts in London and Edinburgh on 17 and 18 November.

SOCA Deputy Director Mark Phillips said:

“People smuggling is a cynical, sordid crime which treats people as commodities to be exploited for profit. The harm it causes affects individuals, communities and the UK as a whole.

“We believe this criminal network was charging up to 4,000 euros for a door to door service. The message today is clear – the UK is part of a global law enforcement family which will not tolerate people smuggling. Working with our national and international partners, SOCA will find you and we will stop you.”