Woman accused of helping group smuggle people on small boats to UK

A woman has been arrested for allegedly helping a people-smuggling organised crime group by launding money.

National Crime Agency officers arrested the 25-year-old woman at a house in Wrexham, along with a 25-year-old man in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, on 30 March.

French Police arrested a further 16 people in and around Paris in simultaneous raids, supported by colleagues from Europol, Eurojust and Belgian federal police.

They also discovered 41 migrants, including 11 being housed in one address.

The organised crime group is suspected of helping migrants on commercial airlines from Vietnam to central and eastern Europe, before onward journeys to France after which they were moved to the UK on small boats and lorries.

The group is believed to hold the genuine Vietnamese passports of those smuggled into the UK as debt bondage.

Specialist officers also apprehended a 26-year-old man in Birmingham after a warrant for his arrest was issued by French authorities. He is suspected of overseeing accommodation for migrants destined for the UK.

He was remanded into custody as the process to extradite him to France begins, and is due to appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court.

The arrests were connected to the same investigation which saw five men apprehended and charged in north west England and South Yorkshire in February this year.

Alex Cruise, NCA senior investigating officer, said: "These arrests are a great example of partnership working with our colleagues in France to tackle the groups behind dangerous crossings to the UK. Such journeys put those being moved at great risk and undermine border security.

"Tackling people smuggling remains a top priority for the NCA, and this is one of approximately 100 ongoing investigations targeting groups or individuals both directly involved in organising journeys, or those who facilitate that criminality."