Moment police raid house of girl who ‘helped £40million trafficking ring smuggle 1,000 Vietnamese migrants into Britain’
This is the moment armed police raided the home of a woman who is suspected of being part of a trafficking ring which smuggled 1,000 Vietnamese migrants into Britain.
Officers from the National Crime Agency hauled the woman and two others into custody during raids across the UK on Monday morning.
A 25-year-old woman, who is suspected of laundering money for the smuggling gang, was detained at an address in Wrexham.
Footage showed several NCA officers entering her address and arresting her while she was sat on her sofa in a dressing gown. She was escorted into a police car and taken away.
A 25-year-old man, suspected of organising smuggling through lower members of the crime group, was arrested in Newcastle-Upon-Tyne. A 26-year-old man, suspected of overseeing accommodation in the UK for migrants, was caught in Birmingham after French officials issued a warrant for his arrest.
He has been remanded into custody and will appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Monday as the process to deport him gets underway.
French police arrested a further 16 people in and around Paris in simultaneous raids in a joint UK – European operation.
The NCA has confirmed that the raids related to an ongoing people smuggling operation. Five other men – alleged to be key figures in a Vietnamese organised crime group – were charged in England earlier this year.
A 25-year-old woman, who is suspected of laundering money for the smuggling gang, was detained at an address in Wrexham
French police arrested a further 16 people in and around Paris in simultaneous raids in a joint UK – European operation
Police believe the gang smuggled 1,000 migrants from France into the UK on small boats and in the back of lorries, making an estimated £44million in turnover.
The investigation revealed that the network organised over 200 trips, charging migrants as much as £40,000 per trip.
NCA officers say many of the migrants are unable to pay the smugglers for the cost of the trip, making them vulnerable to sexual and labour exploitation to repay their debts.
The three arrested on Monday are believed to have been keeping hold of the migrants’ genuine passports as ‘debt bondage’.
The organised group targeted are suspected of facilitating travel for migrants from Vietnam to central and Eastern Europe on commercial airlines – before moving onto France and the UK on small boats or lorries.
Alex Norris, Minister for Border Security and Asylum, said: ‘This government is bearing down on those who attempt to abuse our borders.
‘These arrests demonstrate the strength of our cooperation with France in confronting the criminal networks behind the unacceptable Channel crossings which threaten our border security.
More than 40 illegal migrants were found during searches of properties in France
Police in France found travel documents, cash, phones and other electronic devices
‘We are strengthening law enforcement powers so officers can intercept, detain and arrest people smugglers faster to restore order and control to our borders.’
Alex Cruise, NCA Senior Investigating Officer, said: ‘These arrests are a great example of partnership working with our colleagues in France to tackle the groups behind dangerous crossings to the UK. Such journeys put those being moved at great risk and undermine border security.
‘Tackling people smuggling remains a top priority for the NCA, and this is one of approximately 100 ongoing investigations targeting groups or individuals both directly involved in organising journeys, or those who facilitate that criminality.
‘Our investigation continues with the evidence we have gathered today.’
