"In the past year there has been a 33% surge in smuggling arrests, convictions and seizures of criminal cash and assets, and nearly 4,000 organised immigration crime disruptions since the BSC was launched."
The Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill receives Royal Assent, enhancing law enforcement’s ability to rapidly disrupt people smuggling gangs.
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Police crackdown on organised immigration crime first in multi-agency operation of its kind
Organised gangs behind immigration crime have been targeted by law enforcement as part of a crackdown across England and Wales.
- Over 5,500 people questioned by authorities
- 34 individuals refused entry to the UK and 51 arrested for immigration offences
- Action included roadside stops, patrols along coastlines and ports, checks at airports
Organised gangs behind immigration crime have been targeted by law enforcement as part of a crackdown across England and Wales.
Operation Lockstream, which looks at the operational action tackling organised immigration crime, saw its first crackdown throughout September.
The intensification period saw over a five thousand individuals questioned by authorities in relation to organised immigration crime, thirty four people refused entry into the UK and fifty one people arrested for immigration offences.
Led by the Organised Immigration Crime Domestic Taskforce, the action throughout September saw efforts from police forces and agencies including the National Police Chiefs’ Council, Home Office, Border Force, National Crime Agency, HMRC, Immigration Enforcement and Joint Maritime Security Centre.
This is the first action of its kind run by the new taskforce, set up in May 2025 as a multi-agency approach to transform the way in which the police respond to organised immigration crime gangs operating from the UK.
Organised immigration crime is often linked with drug trafficking and distribution, modern slavery and human trafficking. Criminal gangs use a variety of transport methods to bring migrants to and from the UK illegally, this includes small boats, air travel and accompanied and unaccompanied freight.
The activity involved stepping up patrols at ports, extra checks on roads and airports, and neighbourhood teams targeting potential grey economy exploitation.
Organised gangs behind immigration crime have been targeted by law enforcement as part of a crackdown across England and Wales.
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