An investigation sparked when UK law enforcement tracked inner tubes used as part of “go kits” for small boat launches has led to the arrests of four people in international raids.
The suspects, all Syrian nationals, were held in Germany as hundreds of police, with staff from the UK National Crime Agency, carried out raids in mainland Europe on Wednesday.
Boats and engines, as well as petrol cans, pumps and life jackets, were seized in raids on warehouses in the North Rhine-Westphalia region said to be linked to a people smuggling gang.
