Detectives arrest three seaman over bid to smuggle 69 Albanian migrants from Belgium to UK on fishing boat
- Lithuanian national, 34, Israeli national, 32, and Latvian national, 39, arrested
- Footage shows officers knocking on a door before man in his underwear opens
- Arrests were made following interception of boat in East Anglia last November 17
Detectives have arrested three seamen over a bid to smuggle 69 Albanian migrants from Belgium to the UK on a fishing boat.
The trio, a 34-year-old Lithuanian national living in Lambeth, a 32-year-old Israeli national living in Finchley and a 39-year-old Latvian national living in Kent, were detained by NCA officers in a series of raids this morning.
Footage shows officers knocking on a door before a man in his underwear lets them in. National Crime Agency officers then arrest the man and take him away.
The trio, a 34-year-old Lithuanian national living in Lambeth, a 32-year-old Israeli national living in Finchley and a 39-year-old Latvian national living in Kent, were detained by NCA officers in a series of raids this morning
Footage shows officers knocking on a door before a man in his underwear lets them in. National Crime Agency officers then arrest the man and take him away
The men are now being questioned on suspicion of attempting to facilitate illegal immigration.
The arrests follow the interception of the fishing boat Svanic off the coast of East Anglia on 17 November last year, as part of a joint operation involving the NCA, Immigration Enforcement and Border Force.
The boat had sailed from the Ostend area of Belgium and was carrying 69 Albanian passengers, who were offloaded in Harwich to be dealt with by the immigration authorities.
The three crew members, a Latvian national and two Ukrainian nationals, were arrested on suspicion of facilitating illegal immigration and were subsequently charged.
The arrests follow the interception of the fishing boat Svanic off the coast of East Anglia on 17 November last year, as part of a joint operation involving the NCA, Immigration Enforcement and Border Force
The boat had sailed from the Ostend area of Belgium and was carrying 69 Albanian passengers, who were offloaded in Harwich to be dealt with by the immigration authorities
NCA Regional Head of Investigation Jacque Beer said: ‘Those arrested today are suspected of having played a key role in the events which led up to the interception of the Svanic in November last year.
This was a serious attempt to breach the UK’s border controls, and our investigation into that incident continues.
But today’s activity once again demonstrates our determination to disrupt and dismantle people smuggling networks wherever they are operating. It is a key priority for the NCA.’