Hundreds of inflatable boats, rubber rings and engines have been seized in Bulgaria to stop them being used to smuggle migrants into Britain.
A joint operation by British and Bulgarian authorities resulted in 33 separate interceptions and the seizure of 125 inflatable boats, 128 engines, 300 rubber rings and more than 700 pumps.
Law enforcement experts predict the seizures will have denied the organised crime networks around £16.6 million in profit they would have made from crossings using the equipment.
The haul of goods was seized after a 12-month-long joint effort with the National Crime Agency (NCA), alongside the Home Office and Foreign Office, and the Bulgarian National Customs Agency and Bulgarian Border Police.
Minister for Border Security and Asylum Angela Eagle welcomed the seizure, as Labour looks to carry out its plan of dealing with illegal migration by smashing the people smuggling gangs after it scrapped the Tories’ Rwanda plan.
A joint operation by British and Bulgarian authorities resulted in 33 separate interceptions and the seizure of 125 inflatable boats, 128 engines, 300 rubber rings and more than 700 pumps
Law enforcement experts predict the seizures will have denied the organised crime networks around £16.6 million in profit they would have made from crossings using the equipment
The haul of goods was seized after a 12-month-long joint effort with the National Crime Agency (NCA), alongside the Home Office and Foreign Office, and the Bulgarian National Customs Agency and Bulgarian Border Police
A British Border Force vessel picks up an inflatable dinghy carrying migrants in front of the white cliffs of Dover in the English Channel on May 4, 2024
She said: ‘This work shows what can be achieved through international cooperation to go after the criminal smuggling gangs making millions out of small boat crossings.
‘Our Border Security Command will turbocharge these efforts, with investigators stationed throughout Europe and additional resources to support operations like these.’
Earlier this month a taskforce of officers went to the Kapitan Andreevo border crossing point in southern Bulgaria to carry out targeted searches.
The crossing is one of the busiest land borders in Europe and the busiest land border in Bulgaria, making it a key point targeted by human traffickers and criminal smuggling gangs.
Officers carried out a joint exercise with Bulgarian partners, carried out training and searched vehicles and freight using dogs and specialist equipment.
The day after the conclusion of the exercise another 10 Chinese-made outboard boat engines were seized in a vehicle driven by a Bulgarian national who declared that he was transporting furniture for personal use.
But the engines were found among the load and the driver was issued with a fine.
Minister for Border Security and Asylum Angela Eagle welcomed the seizure, as Labour looks to carry out its plan of dealing with illegal migration by smashing the people smuggling gangs after it scrapped the Tories’ Rwanda plan
Border Force arriving at Dover Docks after picking up over 700 migrants attempting to cross the English Channel on September 22
Migrants wrapped in towels after they were picked up in the English Channel by British Border Force on September 22
British Border Force officials escort migrants into Dover Docks in Kent on September 22
Your browser does not support iframes.
Angela Eagle added: ‘We will not stand by while criminals’ prey on vulnerable people, including women and children.
‘Thanks to the efforts of the NCA, Border Force and other Home Office staff, working in lockstep with our Bulgarian allies, our borders are more secure and more lives have potentially been saved.
‘By seizing the equipment used for dangerous and flimsy boats, we are also striking a major blow to the smugglers’ operations and cutting off millions in profits.’
In October 2023 and again in November 2023 a statement between Bulgaria and the United Kingdom was signed on enhancing cooperation and combatting organised immigration crime.
NCA Director of Intelligence Adrian Matthews said: ‘Bulgaria is a key location on the supply route for the criminal people smuggling networks involved in organising dangerous Channel boat crossings.
‘Taking this equipment out before it can reach them not only disrupts their activities and hits their profits, but it also prevents these lethal boats and under-powered engines being used at sea where lives are at risk.
‘As close partners and allies, the UK and Bulgaria work together to tackle organised crime and illegal migration, strengthening the border security of both countries.
‘And together we are determined to continue doing all we can to disrupt and dismantle the people smuggling networks profiting from misery, wherever and however they operate.’
Prime Minister Keir Starmer has vowed to smash the criminal gangs that run the crossings, but dinghies have continued to enter British waters since his electoral victory on July 5
Your browser does not support iframes.
The Government have promised the public decisive action on dealing with the people smuggling gangs, after previously describing the Rwanda plan as a ‘gimmick’ costing £700million.
The highest number of arrivals in one day this year has so far been 882 in 15 boats on June 18.
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper announced this month that £75 million would be used to boost the number of border security officers amid the Government’s bid to crack down on people smugglers, using money redirected from the scrapped Rwanda deportation plan.
The cash will also pay for hidden cameras and better monitoring technology as the Home Office sets up its new Border Security Command, led by a former police chief, as it aims to speed up investigations and increase the likelihood of successful prosecutions.
Earlier this year, it was also announced that an extra 100 specialist investigators will be allocated to the National Crime Agency (NCA) as part of efforts to curb Channel crossings.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer has vowed to smash the criminal gangs that run the crossings, but dinghies have continued to enter British waters since his electoral victory on July 5.
The PM’s plan involves creating a new Border Security Command, bringing together existing immigration units given new ‘counter-terrorism style’ powers (file image)
Georgi Gospodinov, Head of Customs at Kapitan Andreevo BCP, said: ‘The joint exercises with partners from the UK law-enforcement authorities are extremely important for us.
‘Sharing good practices is a guarantee for good results in tackling efficiently the contraband and illegal human trafficking channels.’
The NCA has a network of international liaison officers based at strategic locations around the world, covering more than 130 countries.
The network works alongside international partners to help disrupt criminal networks impacting the UK, including those involved in organised immigration crime, sharing intelligence and co-ordinating law enforcement action.
Following Labour’s General Election victory, Sir Keir and France’s President Emmanuel Macron pledged to strengthen ‘cooperation’ in handling the surge in undocumented migrant numbers.
The PM’s plan involves creating a new Border Security Command, bringing together existing immigration units given new ‘counter-terrorism style’ powers.
He has also denied that scrapping the Rwanda scheme had made the situation worse, previously saying there was ‘no link’ between ditching the plan and the number of arrivals.
Source link : http://www.bing.com/news/apiclick.aspx?ref=FexRss&aid=&tid=66f9804ecd2942c4a110a263fb2b92f7&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.dailymail.co.uk%2Fnews%2Farticle-13904433%2Fmigrant-inflatable-boats-seized-bulgaria-britain.html&c=10897216369259880069&mkt=de-de
Author :
Publish date : 2024-09-29 09:01:00
Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.