Two arrested as raids target people smugglers

Two men have been arrested following a series of raids by the National Crime Agency (NCA) targeting people smugglers.

The suspects, aged 27 and 29, were detained by officers on suspicion of money laundering in Folkestone, Kent, and Nottingham on Wednesday.

The arrests followed raids on two car washes and a barber shop in the Nottingham area earlier in the day. A raid was also carried out at a residential address in Derby.

The criminal network under investigation by the NCA is suspected of bringing migrants into the UK illegally and then employing them in businesses around the East Midlands.

The 29-year-old suspect was arrested at a location in Bentinck Road, Radford, Nottingham and the 27-year-old was arrested at address in Harbour Way, Folkestone, the NCA said.

A car wash in Nuthall, Nottingham, was issued with a civil penalty notice by Immigration Enforcement for employing an illegal worker.

The operations were supported by officers from Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Police, as well as Immigration Enforcement, coordinated through the East Midlands Special Operations Unit disruption team.

Those detained today remain in custody and are now being questioned.

NCA deputy director of investigations, Craig Turner, said: "Tackling the organised criminals behind people smuggling remains a key priority for the NCA, and this is one of around 100 investigations that we currently have running into individuals or networks suspected of involvement.

"These gangs exploit people for profit – whether it is through risking their safety by transporting them across the Channel in small boats, or by putting them to work in the grey economy once they're here - and we're determined to do all we can to stop them."

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