The UK Government has announced it will invest £100 million to stop migrant smuggling gangs. The money will be used to improve border security and fight the criminals behind dangerous small boat crossings in the English Channel.
According to the Home Office, part of the money will help recruit 300 new officers to the National Crime Agency (NCA). It will also be used to buy new technology and equipment to help catch and break up smuggling networks.
The investment will support law enforcement agencies like the Border Security Command, the NCA, and the police. These groups will now have more money to investigate smuggling leaders and stop their illegal activities, not just in the UK, but also in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.
How will the UK’s investment help stop migrant smuggling?
The funds will help gather better intelligence on criminal gangs, build stronger border security, and allow the UK to respond faster to smuggling attempts. It will also support a new agreement with France to return illegal arrivals, known as the “one-in, one-out” return policy.
The NCA has already made progress. They recently arrested top smugglers, took over 600 small boats and engines, and stopped 351 other gangs from operating. Just last week, they carried out their largest smuggling raid in Bulgaria, seizing many engines meant for illegal boat trips.
Part of the new funding will go to the Organised Immigration Crime Domestic Taskforce. This group works to stop smuggling activities in the UK, including illegal boat crossings and modern slavery operations.
The investment also supports new powers under the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill, which will soon become law. These powers include making it illegal to post or share online ads about illegal migration, such as promoting small boat crossings on social media.
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said the UK now has a strong and serious plan to shut down the business of smuggling gangs. This includes cutting their supply routes in Europe and stopping illegal working operations inside the UK.