People Smuggling Arrest In Northampton

8 December 2016, 14:10 | Updated: 8 December 2016, 14:15

A man in Northampton and 8 others across the UK have been arrested as part of an investigation into a suspected people-smuggling ring.

The arrests were made as part of Operation Cosy, an investigation into a suspected organised crime group believed to be involved in the facilitation of predominantly Iranian nationals into the UK.

Seven of the arrests were made after coordinated strikes at six addresses in Northampton, Manchester and Glasgow at 6am on Monday.

Immigration Enforcement officers arrested two Iranian men (both 29) at homes in Northampton and Glasgow.

Four Iranian men and a Polish woman were arrested at other addresses in Manchester.

On Tuesday, a 33 year-old Iranian man and a 46 year-old British woman, were arrested at Manchester Airport.

All those arrested have been bailed until a later date pending further inquiries.

Assistant director Dave Magrath, from the Immigration Enforcement Criminal Investigations Team, said:

"Our investigation is targeting an organised network suspected of being involved in a complex and systematic attempt to evade the UK's immigration controls.

That investigation will continue with the evidence that was seized on Monday and Tuesday."