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Daily Mail
16 hours ago
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE Moment Border Force agents smash people smuggling ring as they arrest Gambian national in terraced family home 'who helped launder £3m in profits'
This is the moment investigators smashed a multi-million pound people smuggling and human trafficking ring with raids on Organised Crime suspects in Yorkshire and Essex. Operation Bayburn swung into action today after months of painstaking investigation following the discovery of a doctored passport on a migrant at Manchester Airport. It traced the modern slavery racket to Batley, West Yorkshire, where a dozen officers gathered at 5.30am for a last minute briefing. They were given the name of their target as Suspect Alpha, believed to be the 'Money Man' who had helped launder £3m of the Organised Crime Group's profits. He had been living quietly at a family terraced home in the backstreet, working for a local furniture maker. An early hours recce established someone was home and checked the front door ready for the officers to carry out a forced entry. They were accompanied by a 'Money Dog' called Gilbert trained in Manchester by the UK Border Agency to sniff out cash. The officers, wearing stab proof vests and body cams, then climbed into West Yorkshire Police vans at 5.45am ready to roll. They were unarmed since according to intelligence reports the suspect had no history of violence. There then followed a nail-biting 15 minute wait while units in other parts of Yorkshire and Essex got into position for the co-ordinated swoop. There was concern they were losing the cover of darkness and children may soon be going out to school. But at 6am the team was given the Go order and the police vans sped through the still deserted streets of Batley. To achieve the element of surprise and prevent any evidence being lost, a kinetic steel battering ram - called The Enforcer - was used to break in. The uniformed men, both West Yorkshire Police and Home Office Immigration officers, then made their way into the house. A cautious approach had been ordered because of concerns children might be inside the property. A new born baby and 12-year-old child were found inside the house and their safety was ensured before searches began. The officers, wearing stab proof vests and body cams, then climbed into West Yorkshire Police vans at 5.45am ready to roll The uniformed men, both West Yorkshire Police and Home Office Immigration officers, then made their way into the house. Pictured: The damage done to the door by The Enforcer Gilbert was then sent into the house with his UK Border Agency handler in an attempt to sniff out cash. None was found immediately but a quantity of counterfeit documents was recovered from an address in the Greater London area by the Essex team. A 30-year-old Gambian national was arrested inside the Batley property on suspicion of money laundering and exploitation. He was led out by police around half an hour later to a waiting custody and taken to a local police station for questioning. The street remained quiet despite the police presence with most residents still sleeping. As cars began driving down the street, police maintained a scene guard around the property as the searches inside continued and were expected to take hours. Seven other people were also detained in six properties elsewhere in Yorkshire and Essex on suspicion of facilitating migrants into the UK. Searches of the properties are still underway for electronic devices, passports and cash. He was led out by police around half an hour later to a waiting custody and taken to a local police station for questioning At 6am the team was given the Go order and the police vans sped through the still deserted streets of Batley. Pictured: The Enforcer being carried to the house Hundreds of people are believed to have been victims of the racket. The investigation began when the discovery of a bogus document being used to enter the UK Manchester Airport. It was a genuine passport, with a genuine visa, but the photograph had been altered. They are believed to had paid large sums to fly into the UK on passports with their photographs on but other people's visas and details. After arriving in the UK, they were trafficked into human slavery in ways that police are not yet prepared to disclose. Phillip Parr, the Home Office Immigration Enforcement Criminal and Financial Investigations lead, was on the Batley raid. He said: 'Victims paid a substantial amount of money to come into the UK and have then been exploited by an Organised Crime Group into modern day slavery. 'They came here for a better life. But the dream they were sold was turned into a nightmare. They preyed on the weak and vulnerable. 'All they were interested in was profit. We will bring these callous individuals to justice.' Minister for Border Security and Asylum, Dame Angela Eagle said: 'This operation is a clear display that we will not stand by and let evil criminal gangs abuse our immigration system. 'This suspected gang promised their beneficiaries a better life here in the UK. Instead, they face heinous levels of exploitation which is exactly why we are working with law enforcement to ensure survivors of modern slavery are supported and the criminal gangs face justice. 'Our Border Security Command has £280m of additional funding over the next four years to deliver the step-change required to break their business models and deliver our Plan for Change to restore order to the immigration system.' Ben Ryan, Chief Operating Officer at Medaille Trust, added: 'Medaille Trust is delighted to have collaborated on this operation and to have played a part in ensuring that victims were identified and supported to begin their recovery as survivors. 'We believe that collaborative efforts like this between the Home Office and civil society provide a model for confronting the evils of modern slavery; with a focus on both pursuing abusers and recognising and supporting survivors.'


Scottish Sun
14-05-2025
- Scottish Sun
Brazilian drug smuggler, 25, snared with £625k of cocaine at Scots airport claimed he was going sightseeing
The trafficker had also travelled to Switzerland from his home in Sao Paolo AIRPORT BUST Brazilian drug smuggler, 25, snared with £625k of cocaine at Scots airport claimed he was going sightseeing Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A BRAZILIAN drugs smuggler who told immigration officials that he crossed the Atlantic to learn English and see Edinburgh has been jailed for five years. Emanuel Viana-Blausius, 25, told Edinburgh Airport staff that he was going to spend time doing tourist activities in the Scottish capital. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 1 Viana-Blausius was jailed at the High Court in Edinburgh He also told staff he would then travel to London to do a language course. But the High Court in Edinburgh heard he was trying to bring coke into the UK with a street value of £625,000. UK Border Agency staff were suspicious about his claims and pulled him aside. He had travelled from his home city of Sao Paolo to Zurich in Switzerland before catching a connecting flight to Scotland. Prosecutor Ruaraidh Ferguson told judge Lord Lake that Viana-Blausius, of Sao Paolo, was accompanied to baggage reclaim. Officials confiscated the man's suitcase and opened it. Mr Ferguson said: 'The suitcase contained a false bottom. The false bottom was kept in place by Velcro and it was covered in clothes. 'Upon removing the bottom, UK Border Agency staff found packages containing compressed white powder. 'This was found to be cocaine.' The story emerged after Viana-Blausius pleaded guilty last month to being concerned in the supply of cocaine at Edinburgh Airport on December 24 2024. Brit teen facing life in prison after being 'caught with 14kg of cannabis' in her luggage after huge airport arrest Mr Ferguson told the court that the accused had no previous convictions for either 'the United Kingdom or Brazil.' Lord Lake deferred sentence on Viana-Blausius to obtain a report about his background. On Wednesday, the case called for sentencing. Defence advocate Lorenzo Alonsi told Lord Lake that his client grew up in poverty and needed to make money for his family. He said that he worked as a barber and he spoke to somebody about his financial position. The court heard that this person offered Viana-Blausius a job smuggling the drugs into the UK. Mr Alonsi added: 'Since being taken into custody in the United Kingdom, he has not had any contact with any of his family back in Brazil. 'He believes his fiancee has given up on him. ' Passing sentence, Lord Lake said: 'I am satisfied in the circumstances that only a custodial sentence would be appropriate.'


Edinburgh Live
14-05-2025
- Edinburgh Live
Passenger 'wanted to see Edinburgh' but airport staff found 'hidden layer' in suitcase
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info Get the latest Edinburgh Live breaking news on WhatsApp A Brazilian drugs smuggler who told immigration officials he crossed the Atlantic to learn English and see Edinburgh has been jailed for five years. Emanuel Viana-Blausius, 25, told Edinburgh Airport he was going to spend time doing tourist activities in the Scottish capital. He also told staff he would then travel to London to language course. But the High Court in Edinburgh heard he was trying to bring coke into the UK with a street value of £625,000. UK Border Agency staff were suspicious about his claims and pulled him aside. He had travelled from his home city of Sao Paolo to Zurich in Switzerland before catching a connecting flight to Scotland. Prosecutor Ruaraidh Ferguson told judge Lord Lake Viana-Blausius, of Sao Paolo, was accompanied to baggage reclaim. Officials confiscated the man's suitcase and opened it. Mr Ferguson said: 'The suitcase contained a false bottom. The false bottom was kept in place by Velcro and it was covered in clothes. 'Upon removing the bottom, UK Border Agency staff found packages containing compressed white powder. 'This was found to be cocaine.' The story emerged after Viana-Blausius pleaded guilty last month to being concerned in the supply of cocaine at Edinburgh Airport on December 24 2024. Join Edinburgh Live's Whatsapp Community here and get the latest news sent straight to your messages Mr Ferguson told the court that the accused had no previous convictions for either 'the United Kingdom or Brazil.' Lord Lake deferred sentence on Viana-Blausius to obtain a report about his background. On Wednesday, the case called for sentencing. Defence advocate Lorenzo Alonsi told Lord Lake that his client grew up in poverty and needed to make money for his family. He said that he worked as a barber and he spoke to somebody about his financial position. The court heard that this person offered Viana-Blausius a job smuggling the drugs into the UK. Mr Alonsi added: 'Since being taken into custody in the United Kingdom, he has not had any contact with any of his family back in Brazil. 'He believes his fiancee has given up on him. ' Passing sentence, Lord Lake said: 'I am satisfied in the circumstances that only a custodial sentence would be appropriate.'