Over 50 small boat migrants among 362 arrested during massive police bust

Over 50 small boat migrants have been arrested following an massive police raid.

Alongside the scores of arrests, the crime bust resulted in the seizure of drugs, cigarettes and more than £1million in cash by police, the National Police Chiefs' Council (NPCC) said.

Of the 362 arrests made, 57 were illegal migrants who had arrived by crossing the Channel.

The arrests and seizures were made as part of a five-day nationwide crackdown on illegal trade and organised immigration crime.

TRENDING

Stories

Videos

Your Say

The operation - carried out between June 15 and June 20 - resulted in the seizure of illegal tobacco, vapes and cigarettes with a street value of more than £700,000, 92 cars and 31 e-bikes, the NPCC said.

Organised immigration crime at premises including barber shops, vape shops, car washes, food production and nail salons was the focus of the raids.

The NPCC said these businesses are often targeted by criminal gangs as they "provide opportunities to conceal illegal working, to exploit vulnerable migrants, and to launder proceeds of crime".

The Home Office, Immigration Enforcement, Trading Standards, and 39 different police forces were involved in the crime bust.

DCC Wendy Gunney, organised immigration crime domestic taskforce lead, said high street businesses involved in money laundering, drug trafficking and distribution, modern slavery and human trafficking had been targeted in the raids.

She said: "This multi-agency activity sends a clear message to organised crime gangs that law enforcement agencies are working together to tackle illegal trade within our communities, and to bring offenders to justice.

"We are also in the process of considering civil penalties as we have targeted business owners, their business models and those connected with employing migrants through illegal working."

The raid follows the establishment of a £30million organised crime unit to tackle illegal activity on the high street.

LATEST DEVELOPMENTS

• Illegal cigarettes caught in more than half of tobacco shops on Home Secretary's front door
• Shabana Mahmood bans migrants from being housed in new-build homes
• Shabana Mahmood planning to bring THOUSANDS of refugees to UK homes under new sponsorship scheme

On June 10, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood announced legislation to close "dodgy shops" for up to 12 months as part of the Government's national crackdown.

Ms Gunney added: "We will not tolerate exploitation within the UK, and we are determined to target the business owners who openly encourage this.

"Organised immigration crime is often hidden in plain sight, and we are urging the public to report anything that doesn't feel right in businesses on their streets, or if they are concerned about someone's welfare."

The National Crime Agency has said an estimated £12billion in criminal cash is generated in Britain annually.

Alex Norris, Border Security and Asylum Minister, said the results came from "targeted collaboration between the police, immigration enforcement and other partners".

He added: "We are using every lever we have to loosen the grip of criminal gangs on our high streets.

"This specific action comes alongside illegal working visits and arrests being at their highest level in British history, and our action to return nearly 70,000 people with no right to be here since coming into power."

On June 12, HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) launched a raid in central London on six souvenir shops selling royal family, London and UK-themed gifts, along with wizard-themed memorabilia, which led to three arrests for immigration-related offences a £40,000 civil penalty issued.

HMRC previously declared it would make more than 30,000 interventions on the high street in 2026 to 2027, aiming to "dismantle criminal networks".

Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter