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Suspected people-smuggling gang arrested in raids

Dawn Limbu
BBC News, West of England
Home Office A group of seven immigration enforcement officers huddled together outside a van on a rainy, cloudy day. The group is made up of men and women, all of whom have their faces blurred.Home Office
Immigration enforcement officers arrest six people in dawn strikes on Tuesday

Six people suspected to be part of a people-smuggling gang supplying fake identities to illegal migrants have been arrested.

The Home Office said that five men and one woman were arrested in dawn raids on Tuesday in Cheltenham, Manchester, Nottingham, Sheffield and Bradford.

The lead suspect, a 37-year-old Botswana national, was arrested in Cheltenham on suspicion of assisting and planning the illegal entry of more than 200 migrants from Botswana into the UK.

The Home Office said the suspects are thought to be involved in a criminal network exploiting vulnerable people by making them work in the care sector without proper training.

BBC/Tom Ingall Chief immigration officer Mick Wilson gestures with one hand whilst he talks. He is wearing immigration enforcement uniform, which consists of a bullet proof vest with several pockets and a radio. BBC/Tom Ingall
Mick Wilson says the gang had brought 200 people into the country illegally

Chief immigration officer Mick Wilson said it was thought the gang had brought up to 200 people into the country illegally over the last two years.

"Our objective is to arrest those who are involved, who were making money out of the facilitation, and also providing them with false documents and false identities," he said.

Once in the country, it is believed the suspected gang submitted false asylum claims using fake documents.

They are also believed to have helped migrants get jobs in care homes, despite them not having adequate training.

BBC/Tom Ingall A man sits in the back of a grey van with his hands resting on his thighs. A person stands in front of the open door, with handcuffs attached to a belt around their waist. Another person has their gloved hand on the handle of the van door.BBC/Tom Ingall
The suspects were arrested on suspicion of facilitating illegal entry of hundreds of migrants

As well as the man arrested in Cheltenham, a British man aged 36 was detained in Sheffield, a 33-year-old woman in Oldham and another man, aged 46, in Bradford.

Two further men, aged 39 and 50, were arrested in Swinton and Nottingham respectively.

The suspects were arrested on suspicion of conspiring to help asylum seekers enter the UK, and conspiracy to breach UK immigration law.

Home Office Two male immigration enforcement officers facing each other as they they have a conversation in front of someone's back garden. Clothes are seen hanfging on a washing line in the background.Home Office
Immigration enforcement officers made arrests across the country

The arrests come as part of the Labour government's Plan for Change, which was launched to target people-smuggling gangs.

Security Minister Dan Jarvis said: "This operation demonstrates that we will use the full force of the law against those who facilitate illegal entry into the UK for exploitation."

Immigration enforcement criminal and financial investigation inspector Phillip Parr said: "There is no place for those who profit from human misery, and we will continue to use all available powers to pursue and prosecute those involved in these despicable crimes."

Home Office An Immigration Enforcement Officer watches from a balcony as a man is being arrested below.Home Office
The arrests come as part of the government's Plan for Change

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