The National Crime Agency has arrested two people in Croydon as part of a major joint UK-French investigation into people smugglers, who are alleged to have advertised on Facebook, offering to get people across the English Channel in small boats.
Dawn raids: the NCA moved in to make arrests on the people smuggling network this week
People smuggling and the desperate, dangerous passage from France to England in small, inflatable boats has become increasingly controversial.
Just this week, five people, including a seven-year-old girl, died when making the Channel crossing. There had been 112 migrants on board the small boat when it ran aground on a sandbank not long after leaving northern France.
The NCA made four arrests this week, all of them Vietnamese nationals. The arrests took place in dawn raids at addresses in Deptford and Leicester, as well as Heathfield Road, Croydon.
There, a 23-year-old woman was arrested, while a 64-year-old man was arrested in Abinger Grove, Rotherhithe.
“They were arrested on suspicion of assisting unlawful immigration and questioned by NCA officers. They were charged and appeared at Croydon Magistrates Court on Tuesday,” the NCA said.
“A fourth individual, a 24-year-old man, was also arrested by the NCA at the address in Croydon on a warrant issued by the French authorities, who allege he was involved in people smuggling and drug offences. He will now face extradition proceedings.”
Investigators allege the group were involved in advertising illegal immigration into Britain on social media posts aimed at the Vietnamese community, charging migrants thousands of pounds to make the crossing.
Dangerous crossing: desperate migrants often pay thousands to people smuggling gangs to make the Channel crossing
The 64-year-old is believed to have acted as a driver, collecting migrants who arrived on small boats and, the NCA says, “on at least one occasion bringing them back to the Croydon address”.
Another 12 have been arrested in Paris, suspected of being linked to the same people smuggling network.
The arrests, which happened on April 22, can only be reported now due to French legal restrictions being lifted.
Thuan Sy Tran of Arundel House, Heathfield Road, was arrested on a warrant from France on suspicion of assisting the irregular entry, movement or stay of a foreigner in France. She was remanded in custody at Westminster Magistrates Court pending a full extradition hearing on August 16.
Hoang My Tra Nguyen, also of Arundel House, was arrested and charged with arranging the transportation of migrants into the UK and facilitating the arrival of migrants in the UK. Remanded in custody to appear at Croydon Crown Court for a plea and trial preparation hearing on May 21.
“People smuggling via small boats is extremely dangerous and the safety of those making the journey is of no concern for criminal groups who are exploiting them for profit,” said the NCA’s Chris Farrimond.
“As well as the high-risk method of transport, entering under these clandestine means automatically puts these people under increased risk of being forced into exploitation and debt bondage by these groups.
“Migrants are often sold a dream of a better life and access to well-paid employment in the UK, but this is not the reality.
“Vietnamese nationals now make up a large number of those we see arriving on small boats. We allege this group were advertising their crossing services on social media to encourage others from their country to make the same treacherous journey.
“The NCA is continuing our work with partners and has had thousands of social media pages and posts advertising organised immigration crime services removed from platforms.
“These arrests were possible thanks to our close working with the Crown Prosecution Service and the French authorities.
“Tackling organised immigration crime is a priority for the National Crime Agency and our investigation continues to target people smugglers both in the UK and overseas at every step of the route.”
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