Author- JAMES BUTLER
A property in Worthing was searched as part of an operation that has seen five men being arrested on suspicion of smuggling migrants into the country.
On Saturday evening (October 19), 13 migrants, including one child, were found in a hay compartment on a lorry carrying livestock in the port of Calais on Saturday evening (19 October), according to the National Crime Agency.
Border Force officers had searched the vehicle acting on information from the NCA, which was investigating the crime group.
After the search the lorry driver, a British national, was detained by the French authorities.
Four more men, aged between 23 and 39, were then arrested by the NCA on suspicion of facilitating immigration in a series of raids in Romford, East London, and Brentwood, Essex.
NCA investigators also searched properties in Grays, Essex, and Worthing. At one a substantial amount of cash, thought to be around £100,000, was recovered and seized.
The four men arrested by the NCA were questioned and later released under investigation. The man detained in France remains in custody.
NCA regional head of investigation Gerry McLean said: “Those who seek to profit from facilitating illegal immigration into the United Kingdom do so for their own selfish greed and without any concern for the health and wellbeing of those who are often moved across borders in inhuman and degrading conditions.
“We are determined to do all we can with our law enforcement partners to disrupt those networks and bring perpetrators to justice.
“Our investigation into this incident continues.”
