Albanian rapist deported from the UK was found trying to return in a small boat of migrants

Three alleged members of an organised crime group have been arrested

Three alleged members of an Albanian organised crime group have been arrested following a National Crime Agency operation.

They are suspected of bringing migrants to the UK in small boats and lorries, charging between £2,500 and £7,500 each time.

The gang are believed to be behind one small boat that left France and was stopped in the Channel last August.

It had 46 people onboard, mainly Albanians, including young children and the convicted rapist previously deported. He has since been deported again.

Passengers were removed from the boat and taken to a holding centre by Border Force officers whilst the NCA, working closely with Border Force’s Small Boats Operational Command, investigated.

This morning NCA officers swooped on a 34-year-old man from Grays, Essex and a 34-year-old man from Dagenham, east London, who they suspect of being the ringleaders.

They were arrested on suspicion of assisting unlawful immigration.

Three further events believed to be linked to the group involving an HGV were identified by NCA officers in October and November 2022.

The lorry is believed to have travelled from Coquelles, France, on three separate occasions, stopping at service stations in Cobham and Thurrock to drop off migrants.

The driver, a 55-year-old man from Belgium, was arrested when his lorry was stopped in Folkestone today.

Two other men were arrested on suspicion of unlawful entry to the UK at an address in North London.

All of those arrested remain in custody to be questioned by NCA officers.

Chris Farrimond, Director of Threat Leadership at the NCA, said: “We have dismantled a suspected organised crime group behind a number of dangerous migrant crossings last year.

“People smugglers do not care about the safety of those they transport, they seek to exploit them for profit.

“Tackling organised immigration crime is a priority for the NCA and we have more than 90 ongoing investigations into networks based here and overseas causing the highest harm.

"As we target callous organised criminal gangs, we will not hesitate to also pursue HGV drivers complicit in helping them.”

Related links:

All migrants may be moved out of hotels to disused ferries and military bases, report claims

The Tories have no intention of solving the migrant crisis – here’s why

Immigration minister says Albanians ‘should be barred’ from claiming UK asylum