Hair-raising video footage has emerged of National Crime Agency officers raiding a property in Preston, arresting a man the NCA claims is part of a people smuggling gang that ferries asylum seekers across the Channel.
The 38-year-old, believed to be from Iraq, was detained early on the morning of May 5 at a house on Stefano Road, Preston.
The man was arrested on suspicion of facilitating illegal immigration to the UK on two separate occasion in November and Decemeber 2023.
Screaming officers clad in black can be seen piling into a terraced property, with a BMW parked outside. The video, which has been seen on X around 30,000 times, then cuts to a man being led away by three officers, one of whom is holding crutches.
The man is accused of helping facilitate illegal crossings to the UK from Turkey, advertising people smuggling services on social media.
NCA Senior Investigating Officer Al Mullen said: “Today’s arrest marks a significant point in an international investigation into organised immigration crime.
“Tackling this threat is a priority for the NCA, we have seen only in recent weeks how dangerous these crossings are.
“We are determined to do all we can, working with partners in the UK, Europe and beyond, to target, disrupt and dismantle the criminals organising them.”
May 1 saw the highest number of Channel crossings in a single day so far this year.
The Home Office said 711 people made the journey in 14 boats on Wednesday, suggesting an average of 51 people per boat.
It takes the provisional total for the number of arrivals this year so far to 8,278. Last year, 29,437 migrants arrived in the UK, down 36% on a record 45,774 arrivals in 2022.
Since the Safety of Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration) Act became law after receiving royal assent on Thursday last week, 1,611 migrants have made the journey in 32 boats.
The Prime Minister’s official spokesman also described the number of migrants crossing the Channel as “unacceptable”, and said: “That is exactly why we need to get flights off the ground to Rwanda to provide the effective deterrent such that people know if they arrive here illegally they won’t be able to stay here.”
