Woman, 49, is arrested amid probe into the supply of small boats to people smugglers
The arrest of the 29-year-old woman follows a National Crime Agency investigation (NCA) into a network suspected of supplying small boats and maritime equipment from Türkiye to gangs operating in Europe.
The woman, who was held at an address in Surrey Quays, London, is suspected of receiving funds derived from small boat supply.
She is currently in custody and is being interviewed by the NCA.
Lydia Bloomfield, NCA regional head of investigation, said: 'Tackling organised immigration crime remains a key priority for the NCA, and we are determined to target, disrupt and dismantle the gangs involved in planning Channel crossings in any way we can.
'That includes focusing on those involved in supplying boats and equipment to them.
'Our investigation continues.'
There have been more than 51,000 small boat arrivals since the election, including a 40 per cent jump in numbers so far this year, compared with the same period in 2024.
One in four of the total asylum claims, 43,600, were made by small boat migrants.
The rest came here clandestinely, such as stowing away in a lorry, which accounted for 11 per cent of claims, or arrived here legally such as on a visa and then claimed to be refugees.
Today's new data also showed a dip in the number of small boat migrants being deported by Labour.
In the year to the end of June 2,330 Channel migrants were removed, compared with 2,516 in the previous 12 months, a fall of seven per cent.
The Home Office said 111,084 people claimed asylum in the year to June, up 14 per cent on the previous 12 months.
It surpassed the peak of 103,000 in 2002 during the 'asylum crisis' under Tony Blair 's government.
In another major development, the number of foreign nationals extending their visas to stay in Britain topped one million for the first time.
The data showed a 28 per cent leap in the number of visa extensions to 1,041,786, up nearly 230,000 in a year.
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