Channel migrant smugglers hit £16.6m ‘hit’ in UK-led operation | Politics | News

Channel smuggling gangs have lost £16 million in profits after hundreds of boats, engines and key equipment were seized.

The British FBI – the National Crime Agency – led a joint operation with the Bulgarian Customs Service and the Bulgarian Border Police that targeted the criminals’ supply networks.

And in 33 separate arrests, 125 inflatable boats, 128 motors, more than 700 pumps and 300 rubber rings were discovered and confiscated.

The NCA estimated that using all this equipment the smugglers would have made a profit of £16.6 million.

Bulgaria is used as a key transit country for smuggling migrants and equipment from Turkey, with Kapitan Andreevo being a key border crossing.

Sniffer dogs at the border have also been trained to smell the rubber used in the boats.

NCA Director of Intelligence Adrian Matthews said: “Bulgaria is a key location on the supply route for the criminal people smuggling networks involved in organizing dangerous boat crossings across the English Channel.

“Removing this equipment before it can reach them not only disrupts their operations and reduces their profits, but also prevents these deadly boats and underpowered engines from being deployed at sea where lives are at risk.”

“As close partners and allies, the UK and Bulgaria work together to combat organized crime and illegal migration and strengthen border security in both countries.”

“And together we are determined to continue to do everything in our power to dismantle and dismantle the people smuggling networks that profit from misery, wherever and however they operate.”

People smugglers in Turkey have told the Daily Express how they transport migrants to Bulgaria in trucks and change license plates at the border to avoid suspicion.

Traffickers communicate with each other to warn in advance that they are secretly smuggling migrants into their territory.

Depending on the route the migrants take, smugglers take charge of all roads in their area and are responsible for smuggling them to the next checkpoint.

Georgi Gospodinov, head of customs at Kapitan Andreevo BCP, said: “The joint exercises with UK law enforcement partners are extremely important for us.”

“The exchange of best practices is a guarantee of good results in the effective fight against contraband and illegal human trafficking.”

Border Security and Asylum Minister Angela Eagle said: “This work shows what can be achieved through international cooperation to pursue the criminal smuggling gangs who make millions from small boat crossings.”

“Our Border Patrol Command will advance these efforts by deploying investigators across Europe and providing additional resources to support such operations.

“We will not stand by and allow criminals to exploit vulnerable people, including women and children.

“Thanks to the efforts of the NCA, Border Force and other Home Office staff working in lockstep with our Bulgarian allies, our borders are more secure and more lives may have been saved.” By confiscating equipment for dangerous and weak boats “We also deal a serious blow to the smugglers and deprive them of millions in profits.”