Four Syrians have been arrested in Germany as part of an investigation into a network suspected of supplying equipment to small boat people smugglers.
The arrests, which took place in the North Rhine-Westphalia region on Wednesday morning, come as part of a joint operation with Britain as they aim to crack down on the Channel migrant smuggling network.
All four men arrested were Syrian nationals and are suspected of being key figures in the organised group supplying equipment.
They now face extradition to Belgium, where they will be prosecuted.
Boats, engines, petrol cans, pumps and life jackets were all seized across 12 locations in the German cities of Essen, Gelsenkirchen, Marl, Bottrop, Herdecke, and Ludenscheid.
Storage warehouses and residential properties were included in the search, while two addresses in Belgium were also raided.
More than 450 police officers were involved in the widespread raids this morning, while a team of National Crime Agency (NCA) officers was also deployed to Germany to assist.
NCA Deputy Director of Investigations Craig Turner said: “We believe this operation has successfully disrupted and dismantled a significant organised crime group supplying equipment to people smugglers operating in the Channel.
Four Syrians have been arrested in Germany as part of an investigation into a network suspected of supplying equipment to small boat migrant smugglers
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NATIONAL CRIME AGENCY
“These vessels are completely unsuitable for what they are being used for, with 70 or more people crammed on, propelled by a hugely under-powered engine.
“The fact that they are being put into the open sea in one of the world’s busiest shipping lanes demonstrates the complete disregard these criminal networks have for the safety of those they transport.
“This operation will have dealt a blow to their business model and supply lines.
“I’m grateful for the co-operation and support of all our European partners who have contributed to this success.”
Petrol cans and inflatable boats were found on many of the premises in which searches were carried out
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NATIONAL CRIME AGENCY
Engines were also recovered
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NATIONAL CRIME AGENCY
The major operation follows a wide-scale investigation by the NCA and Belgian Federal Police after they received intelligence about a suspicious delivery of tyre inner tubes in March last year.
Migrants on small boats can use such inner tubes as a substitute for life jackets, handed out by people smugglers.
The shipments were hauled to several locations across Germany, which were controlled by the gang, the NCA said, and then used to create “go kits”.
The kits would include the tubes, along with inflatable boats, pumps and engines worth more than €100,000 on the black market. These were sold and shipped to the French coast for use in the Channel.
The tyre inner tube can be used as an alternative to life jackets
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NATIONAL CRIME AGENCY
Several of these shipments were intercepted by the NCA and Belgian police, while multiple others, including in France (five), Germany and the Netherlands (two each), were made, leading to 17 further arrests.
Investigators believe that had these kits reached the French coast, they could have been used to transport around 1,000 people to the UK.
Minister for Border Security and Asylum Alex Norris said: “This operation shows the instrumental impact of working upstream with our international partners to shut down the criminal supply chains behind illegal small boat crossings.
“By targeting vile smugglers before boats even reach the water, we are hitting these gangs where it hurts most – their business model.
“Through closer co‑operation across Europe, we are delivering record high arrests, seizures and convictions. We will stop at nothing to restore and order and control to our borders.”
