A suspected people smuggler accused of organising the crossing of the English Channel for migrants on small boats has been arrested in south-west London.
The 30-year-old Albanian national was handcuffed by National Crime Agency (NCA) officers after a dawn raid on his flat in the Tolworth Rise area of Surbiton on Friday.
He is suspected of involvement in an Albanian organised crime group co-ordinating the movements of migrants from France to the UK on small boats.
Following a search of his home mobile phones, a tablet and bundles of cash were seized.
The man is now being questioned by NCA officers on suspicion of facilitating illegal immigration.
NCA Regional Head of Investigation Jacque Beer said: “Attempts to reach the UK by small boat are incredibly dangerous, and we know a high percentage are facilitated by organised criminal networks of varying sophistication.
“These networks do not care about the safety or security of those they transport, they seek to exploit them for profit.
“We believe today’s operation will have disrupted the activity of one such network, and our investigation continues.”
It comes as more than 8,000 migrants crossed the Channel to the UK in August – the highest monthly total on record.
Some 8,644 made the crossing on 189 boats in the 31-day period, with journeys taking place on 21 of those days, according to PA news agency analysis of government figures.
It is the highest monthly total since current records began in 2018.
NCA deputy director of threat leadership Andrea Wilson said reports of an increase in arrivals of Albanians on boats crossing the Channel are accurate, and whether or not they are involved in organised crime is “part of the assessment process”.
