Dozens of arrests made in UK crackdown against gangs exploiting Irish border

The Port of Belfast in 2021. UK police forces descended on ports, airports and road locations in the UK including Belfast, Scotland, Liverpool and Luton as part of the three-day operation. Photograph: Phil Noble/Reuters

More than 30 people have been arrested across the UK in a Home Office crackdown against people-smuggling gangs exploiting the invisible border between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland and between Ireland and Wales.

The operation, which took place between 16 and 18 September, resulted in 14 arrests in Belfast and £400,000 in cash and 10 false ID documents seized at various locations across the UK.