This is the moment a suspected people smuggler was arrested in north London as part of a series of dawn raids targeting an alleged trafficking gang based in the capital.
National Crime Agency (NCA) officers stormed homes in Edmonton and Enfield as well as cafes in east London as part of the early morning operation on Wednesday.
Four people were arrested on suspicion of immigration offences. Three Albanian men and a woman from Moldova were being questioned as part of an investigation into a gang that advertised illegal crossings from France to the UK on social media, an NCA spokesman said.
They are also suspected of picking up illegal migrants from HGV stops in Kent and bringing them to London.
A 31-year-old man was arrested in Edmonton, a 29-year-old in Enfield and a 30-year-old near Gatwick Airport on Wednesday.
The woman was arrested in Leyton.
In a separate operation officers from the NCA, the Metropolitan Police and Home Office visited five cafes in Walthamstow, Chingford and Dagenham believed to be used by members of the alleged smuggling gang.
Two people were arrested for immigration offences in Edmonton as part of these raids.
NCA Branch Commander Adam Berry said: “Tackling organised immigration crime remains a priority for the NCA, and the arrests carried out by my officers today are the result of an investigation into a gang we suspect of advertising and orchestrating HGV crossings from France.
“These types of illegal crossings, whether by boat or in HGVs, risk the lives of those being transported and threaten the UK’s border security, which is why targeting the organisers behind them is so important for us.
“Working with law enforcement and Government partners we are determined to do all we can to target, disrupt and dismantle the criminal networks involved in people smuggling.
“These arrests and further operations with partners to visit premises across east London show that in action.”
The NCA said more than 8,000 social media accounts used by people smugglers were taken down last year.
It currently has around 80 investigations into illegal migration gangs.
Border Security Minister, Dame Angela Eagle, said: “We are turbocharging efforts to combat organised immigration crime and illegal working.
“This successful operation is another example of how we are clamping down on vile gangs who exploit vulnerable people to make money.
“Boosting border security is a vital part of our Plan for Change and we are focussed on taking down these criminal networks at every stage through increased enforcement activity, tougher legislation and strengthened international partnerships.
“I’d like to thank law enforcement for their efforts in this case and we will continue to use every possible tool to ensure dangerous criminals face the full force of the law.”
