Arrests after lorry carrying 33 migrants stopped

A suspected people smuggler has been charged with facilitating illegal immigration and money laundering after a lorry containing 33 migrants was intercepted by officers.

Zahid Khan, 51, was detained by police in Sheldon Heath Road, Birmingham, on Tuesday.

West Midlands Police and the National Crime Agency (NCA) are working together to investigate a suspected criminal network smuggling migrants in and out of the UK in the backs of lorries.

A second man, 44, arrested at the same time and placed on suspicion of facilitating illegal immigration, has been bailed pending further enquiries, the NCA said.

This man is to remain in custody as he is wanted for failing to appear at court over unconnected offences, the agency added.

The investigation followed the NCA's interception of a lorry carrying migrants of Indian, Pakistani and Bangladeshi nationality in Dover on 4 February.

The lorry was about to leave the UK on a ferry to France, and the driver was arrested.

NCA branch operations manager Paul Jones said: "These arrests were made as part of an ongoing investigation into a people-smuggling network suspected of using HGVs to transport migrants in both directions across the Channel.

"This activity both risks the safety of those being transported, and presents a threat to our border security."

Follow BBC Birmingham on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.