Some 14 people have been arrested in Northern Ireland as part of a UK-wide operation aimed at cracking down on people-smuggling gangs and those exploiting the Common Travel Area (CTA).
Under the CTA, UK and Irish citizens are able to travel freely between and reside in either jurisdiction without restriction.
The recent operation – which took place from September 16 to 18 – involved the Home Office’s Immigration Enforcement teams, UK police forces and international partners.
They descended on locations across the UK, including Belfast, Liverpool and Scotland, over the course of the three days.
PSNI officers were involved in the tactical and operational support side, including officers from the PSNI’s Organised Crime Branch and Road Policing Teams.
The operation was targeting criminal gangs who often exploit vulnerable migrants, charging them thousands of pounds to enter the UK illegally.
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Checks were conducted at major ports, airports and road networks in a bid to disrupt smuggling routes.
The 14 people arrested in Northern Ireland, including seven Albanian nationals, were detained at Belfast International Airport, Belfast City Airport, Belfast Docks, Belfast city centre and in the vicinity of the A1 dual carriageway.
Across the UK a total of 31 arrests were made. Some £400,000 in criminal cash and 10 fraudulent identity documents – which allow criminals to evade immigration controls – were seized.
Police and Border Force make arrests in Belfast
The operation was led by Immigration Enforcement’s criminal and financial Investigations team in Northern Ireland, the PSNI, the National Crime Agency (NCA), and other police forces and international partners.
Dame Angela Eagle, the Minister for Border Security and Asylum, said the Government “will not stand by as criminal gangs exploit vulnerable people, risking their lives and giving them false hopes of a better life in the UK”.
“Driven by greed, these gangs have no regard for human life or safety, charging outrageous fees, preying on those desperate to escape hardship, and forcing them into illegal and dangerous situations,” she said.
Home Office Immigration Enforcement Inspector Jonathan Evans said: “This operation has been a huge success and sends a clear message that the smuggling gangs who break our laws will face serious consequences.
“We are taking action day in, day out to ensure we stay a step ahead of these criminal groups, disrupting them at the earliest possible stage. We will continue working relentlessly to ensure no one abuses the Common Travel Area or the UK’s borders.
“I’m incredibly proud of our teams across the country, as well as our partners from the police, the National Crime Agency, and international counterparts, for their hard work and collaboration in carrying out this important operation.”
A 2023 Westminster report examined how the CTA operates, and its potential pitfalls when it comes to illegal immigration.
“The lack of routine border controls on the land frontier means that there is potential for abuse of the CTA for unauthorised migration,” it said.
“The British and Irish governments cooperate closely to guard against this, including through data sharing and the joint Operation Gull, but do not disclose the details of how this works.
“The immigration authorities of both countries conduct occasional checks within their own territory.”
Operation Gull is a joint exercise by the UK and Irish authorities aimed at tackling the movement of undocumented migrants across the CTA.