Six arrested on suspicion of smuggling hundreds of migrants into UK to work in care homes
Six people suspected of illegally smuggling hundreds of migrants into the UK to work in care homes have been arrested.
An alleged organised crime boss was among those apprehended in a series of dawn raids on Tuesday morning.
The group is accused of unlawfully bringing 200 Botswana nationals into Britain over a two-year period, leading them into a life of fraud and exploitation.
They are believed to have assisted the migrants with illegal employment in care homes, despite them having no adequate training or medical expertise, the Home Office said.
Five men and one woman were arrested in raids in Cheltenham, Manchester, Nottingham, Sheffield and Bradford.
The lead suspect, a 37-year-old Botswana national, was arrested in Cheltenham on suspicion of assisting and planning the illegal entry of migrants into the UK.
They are accused of assisting migrants in submitting false asylum claims using fake documents and helping them gain employment illegally.
Officers acted on intelligence that suggested the lead people-smuggler was exploiting Botswanan nationals he lured to Britain under false pretences allegedly forcing them to do unpaid work.
Security Minister Dan Jarvis said: 'I want to commend the dedication and professionalism of our criminal investigators and Immigration Enforcement officers for these significant arrests. Their tireless efforts have disrupted criminal networks that profit from exploiting vulnerable individuals and undermining our immigration system.
'This operation demonstrates that we will use the full force of the law against those who facilitate illegal entry into the UK for exploitation.
'Our enforcement teams work day and night to protect our borders and communities from harm, and this successful operation is testament to their commitment.
'The Government remains resolute in our approach to tackle illegal migration and the criminal enterprises that enable it, and through our Plan for Change will continue to restore order to the asylum system that collapsed in recent years."
Immigration Enforcement Criminal and Financial Investigations lead, Phillip Parr, added: 'This is one of our highest priority investigations due to the scale of the threat, the number of people believed to be involved, the immense harm these victims are potentially at risk of, and the amount of financial gain the suspects stand to make.'
One man from Botswana aged 37, two Zimbabwean men aged 39 and 50, two British men aged 36 and 46, and a British woman aged 33 were arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to do an act to help an asylum seeker enter the UK and conspiracy to facilitate the commission of a breach of UK immigration law.
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