
Four arrested after dawn raids targeting suspected people smugglers
They are also suspected of picking up illegal migrants from HGV stops in Kent and taking them to London.
A 31-year-old man was arrested in Edmonton, north London, a 29-year-old in Enfield and a 30-year-old near Gatwick Airport on Wednesday.
The woman was arrested in Leyton.
Officials from the NCA, and other bodies including the Metropolitan Police and Home Office, also visited premises including five cafes in Walthamstow, Chingford and Dagenham, east London, thought to be used by members of the smuggling gang.
In a separate operation, two people were arrested for immigration offences in Edmonton.
NCA Branch Commander Adam Berry said: 'Tackling organised immigration crime remains a priority for the NCA, and the arrests carried out by my officers today are the result of an investigation into a gang we suspect of advertising and orchestrating HGV crossings from France.
'These types of illegal crossings, whether by boat or in HGVs, risk the lives of those being transported and threaten the UK's border security, which is why targeting the organisers behind them is so important for us.
'Working with law enforcement and Government partners we are determined to do all we can to target, disrupt and dismantle the criminal networks involved in people smuggling.
'These arrests and further operations with partners to visit premises across east London show that in action.'
The NCA said more than 8,000 social media accounts used by people smugglers were taken down in 2024.
It currently has around 80 investigations into illegal migration gangs.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


STV News
14 minutes ago
- STV News
Bin lorry driver who killed boy cycling to school given unpaid work
A bin lorry driver who caused the death of a young boy who was cycling to school has been banned from driving and ordered to carry out unpaid work. Ross Wallace was driving the large refuse truck when he struck 11-year-old Thomas Wong while pulling out at the exit of the Royal Burgess Golfing Society car park in Cramond, Edinburgh, last year. Wallace, 29, continued to drive on following the collision but soon pulled over after hearing colleagues shouting to find the schoolboy lying on the road. Supplied Ross Wallace was driving the large refuse truck when he struck 11-year-old Thomas Wong while pulling out at the exit of the Royal Burgess Golfing Society car park in Cramond, Edinburgh, last year. Thomas was pronounced dead at the scene after being hit by the Scania HGV as he made his way to primary school at around 8.30am on March 1 last year. CCTV footage of the incident was played to an Edinburgh Sheriff Court hearing on Thursday. The first clip from inside the cab showed Wallace hearing the shouts from colleagues to stop the vehicle. The second showed the moment the child cycled across the car park exit and was struck down. Wallace, from Prestonpans, East Lothian, was in the dock for sentencing after he had previously pled guilty to causing the death by driving without due care and attention. The charge also stated the driver had failed to keep proper observations on the road and on repeated occasions use a mobile phone while reversing the vehicle. Defence advocate Emma Toner told the court her client was a father of four and this was his first criminal offence. She said Wallace has shown 'very clear remorse' and that he 'accepts responsibility' for causing the accident. 'If he could turn back the clock he would of course but that cannot be done,' she said. Sheriff Alistair Noble said the driver had caused Thomas' 'tragic death' by failing to look to his left as pulled out of the car park and acknowledged the view to that side had been 'restricted by foliage'. The judge was given seven victim impact statements from the victim's family and said: 'It is clear Thomas was a much-loved child and his death has had a devastating impact on the family.' Wallace was sentenced to carry out 133 hours of unpaid work in the community and banned from driving for 12 months. The court was previously told internal footage from the cab of the truck had captured Wallace 'using his mobile phone on numerous occasions' over the course of three hours prior to the accident. The footage showed Wallace failing to 'keep proper observations of the road ahead while driving the bin lorry' and on one occasion he was seen 'using his mobile phone while reversing the HGV'. The court heard the use of the mobile phone while Wallace was driving the NWH Group truck 'occurred earlier on in the day and had no bearing on the collision'. Prosecutor Anna Robertson said the schoolboy had been cycling on the pavement on his way to school when he approached the car park exit on the city's Whitehouse Road. The court heard 'dashcam footage of the HGV showed the accused looking around the car park as he proceeded to exit' and was seen 'to continuously look to his right as he moved forwards towards the oncoming traffic in his direction'. Ms Robertson said: 'The accused failed to make proper observations to his left and failed to account for any vulnerable road users crossing the junction and footpath. 'Having heard a noise, the accused was initially unaware that he had struck Thomas. He stopped the vehicle and discovered the deceased on the roadway.' The court was told a subsequent collision investigation had found the speed of the bin lorry had 'reduced to 7.5mph immediately prior to the point of impact with the deceased'. The fiscal depute added: 'The CCTV speed analysis shows that the driver of the Scania HGV has not reacted to the presence of Thomas and has continued driving south on Whitehouse Road.' A police investigation found the driver had failed to 'carry out visual checks prior to driving across the driveway where the deceased was cycling'. The report also stated 11-year-old Thomas had 'failed to carry out sufficient observations for vehicles which may be exiting the car park'. Ms Robertson said: 'In the opinion of the collision investigators, the accused's lack of caution at the car park exit has led to his being unaware of the initial collision with the deceased and to the vehicle continuing its journey southwards, whereby the Scania HGV has driven over the deceased, inflicting fatal injuries.' Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country


Press and Journal
an hour ago
- Press and Journal
Aberdeen cocaine dealer locked up after £100,000 of drugs found
An Albanian drug dealer tried to leap out of a window to escape from police after being caught red-handed with more than £100,000 worth of cocaine. Ridvan Morina, 21, was jailed for two years and eight months when he appeared for sentencing at the High Court in Dundee today. The court heard Morina carried out the crime to pay off debts he'd accrued while travelling to the UK. Lord Ericht said: 'You pled guilty to being concerned in the supply of cocaine. The 856g of cocaine recovered has a potential street value of up to £101,600. 'You acknowledge you had travelled from England to Aberdeen with the intention of repaying outstanding debts to associates when you were aware it would involve criminal activity and drugs. 'The crime is a serious one and there is no alternative to a custodial sentence. I take into account your age.' Morina was the only person in the property at the city's Stoneywood Road when officers armed with a warrant forced entry on March 26 this year. As police closed in, Morina moved towards a bedroom window and was going to jump out before officers intervened and prevented his escape. The court heard that in January this year, police received intelligence that a specific phone number was being used by an Albanian male dealing cocaine in Aberdeen and Dundee. Advocate depute Martin Crawford said: 'The accused was found in a bedroom preparing to jump out the window.' Morina was restrained and detained by officers. Some of the cocaine was in block form but police also found 121 zip-sealed bags containing individual deals. Morina's DNA was found on scales in the property and on a knife that had cocaine residue on it. Officers found a notebook with drug-related entries, along with £5,310 in cash in a chest of drawers. The court heard that unemployed Morina, of no fixed abode, has no previous convictions in the UK though he previously breached immigration bail. Morina, who followed the court proceedings with the aid of an interpreter, admitted being concerned in the supply of cocaine on March 26 this year. Defence counsel Louis Bendle said: 'He essentially accrued a debt, which was the money for travelling to the UK. He initially gained employment in London but was not making enough after deductions to pay back the money he owed. 'He was given the opportunity to work in this drug operation to repay that debt. He felt threatened by those who had loaned him money. 'The outstanding debt has now been cleared by his brother. He has been employed in the construction industry since leaving school at 17. He expresses his remorse, shame, and acceptance of responsibility.'


The Sun
an hour ago
- The Sun
Shocking moment drugs gang are chased onto popular UK beach in front of stunned sunbathers after 28-mile pursuit at sea
THIS is the shocking moment where a drugs gang is chased onto a popular UK beach by police. The smugglers had been chased by police for 28-miles before they landed in front of stunned sunbathers. 4 4 4 In footage released by the National Crime Agency, two smugglers can be seen racing across the sea closely followed by a second boat. After cruising along the waves for 28 miles, the smugglers finally ground to a halt when they swept onto the beach. Next, they leapt from their boat and began bolting across the sand before the second boat landed on the beach. In a second video, horrified onlookers can be heard shouting as the two men flee from a group of police. That led the officers to spread out, creating a fanlike formation to ensure that the drug gang had no means of escape. A third video shows the steely attitude that the police took when catching the crooks, as they slid off the boat and racing after the smugglers on the beach. As the two criminals abandoned their rigid-hulled inflatable boat (RHIB), they also left behind a huge quantity of cocaine. Eventually, the police managed to catch the men after a short chase on the shores of Gwynver Beach, Penzance. Scott Johnston, 38, from Havant and Edwin Yahir Tabora Baca, 33, from Barcelona were eventually hauled before a court and slapped with huge prison sentences. Johnston will spend 24 years behind bars, while his accomplice will be jailed for 17 years and 7 months. Shocking moment sunbathers erupt into huge brawl on Brit beach for the SECOND time in a week as punches thrown on sand Meanwhile, five other men were arrested in connection with the crime which took place on September 13, 2024. Michael May, 47, and Terry Willis, 44, organised the collection of the cocaine which had a total worth of £18.4 million. Six bales of cocaine were recovered from the RHIB, containing 230kg of the illegal drug. The two Essex residents received jail sentences of 19 years and 21 years and 8 months, respectively. Peter Williams, 43, received a sentence of 16 years and nine months in prison and Bobbie Pearce, 29, was handed a 15 year and four month stint in jail. Both men were directly involved in the crime group which had planned the secret scheme. Alex Fowlie, 35, will be sentenced on September 5 after it was found that he had supplied the boat. NCA Senior Investigating Officer, Barry Vinall, said: 'These are substantial sentences for six men who didn't care about the misery cocaine causes, they just wanted to make a profit. 'Cocaine is one of the most harmful illegal drugs in the UK, linked to thousands of deaths and fuelling violent crime that wrecks communities and lives. 'Working together, Border Force stopped cocaine worth millions from making it onto UK streets and the National Crime Agency ensured that the group behind its importation faced justice.' Duncan Capps, Senior Director of Border Force Maritime added: "It is the job of Border Force to protecting our border and keeping communities safe. 'Our officers were fantastic and displayed incredible skill during the 28-mile pursuit, despite the suspects' attempts to get rid of evidence. "Border Force will continue to work alongside the NCA to prevent dangerous drugs reaching our streets and will ensure criminals caught smuggling face the full force of the law." 4