13 January 2025 , 18:35
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In a major international operation, UK, French, and German authorities have dismantled an organised crime group (OCG) responsible for smuggling migrants to the UK via dangerous small-boat crossings in the Channel.
The operation, led by the French National Police unit OLTIM and supported by the UK’s National Crime Agency (NCA), resulted in 13 arrests and the seizure of vital smuggling equipment.
On Wednesday, 4 December, approximately 500 German police officers carried out raids in North Rhine-Westphalia and Baden-Württemberg. The coordinated effort led to the arrest of suspected senior members of the network and the confiscation of 21 boats, 24 engines, life jackets, pumps, and cash.
The smuggling network had been sourcing and storing equipment in Germany before transporting it to the Channel for illegal crossings.
The NCA played a crucial role by providing intelligence on the gang’s activities, helping to target key figures within the operation. Collaborating with law enforcement agencies from Belgium and the Netherlands, the task force was coordinated through Europol and Eurojust, showcasing the strength of international cooperation in tackling organised crime.
Tom Outhwaite, NCA International Regional Manager, highlighted the significance of the operation:
“The operation has demonstrated the benefits of working internationally to target these OCGs, and we are grateful to our French and German partners for what they have done. We believe the action undertaken here will have significantly degraded a people smuggling network impacting the UK, which has been directly responsible for putting lives at risk in boats on the Channel.”
Those arrested in Germany now face extradition to France for further legal proceedings. This collaborative effort underscores the commitment of European law enforcement to dismantle networks that exploit vulnerable individuals while putting lives at risk.
Outhwaite further spoke on the NCA’s dedication:
“Targeting, disrupting and dismantling these gangs remains a priority for the NCA, and we are devoting more resources to doing that than ever before. That includes additional officers working overseas in locations where criminal networks are active to assist on operations like this.”