Three suspected members of Bolivian smuggling gang are arrested in south London

Three suspected members of Bolivian smuggling gang are arrested in south London ‘after trafficking migrants by exploiting free movement zone between UK and Ireland’

  • Police believe the three men are members of a Bolivian people-smuggling gang 
  • Officials believe the migrants flew into Dublin before being taken to Belfast
  • They would then be taken across the Irish Sea to avoid strict border controls  

Alleged members of a Bolivian smuggling gang were arrested yesterday accused of exploiting the free movement zone between the UK and Ireland.

The three held in south London are suspected of bringing migrants from Bolivia via Dublin and Belfast to mainland Britain.

The criminal operation is suspected of manipulating the so-called Common Travel Area which allows passport-free movement between the UK and Ireland.

A Home Office spokesman said the arrests were ‘linked to a highly sophisticated people-smuggling operation between Bolivia and the UK’.

‘The individuals are believed to have been abusing the Common Travel Area between Dublin and Belfast, charging migrants thousands of pounds to be flown from Bolivia to the UK via the Republic of Ireland,’ she added.

Two men and a woman have been arrested in south London on suspicion of bringing migrants from Bolivia via Dublin and then Belfast to cross the Irish Sea 

Commenting on the arrest, immigration minister Robert Jenrick said: ‘The public should be in no doubt of our determination to clamp down on those who violate our laws by exploiting people for their own financial gains'

Commenting on the arrest, immigration minister Robert Jenrick said: ‘The public should be in no doubt of our determination to clamp down on those who violate our laws by exploiting people for their own financial gains’

‘Once smuggled into the country, most of the migrants are believed to have been working here illegally.’

Immigration minister Robert Jenrick said: ‘The public should be in no doubt of our determination to clamp down on those who violate our laws by exploiting people for their own financial gains.

‘These individuals thought they were beyond the reach of the law – they were proved wrong.

‘Today’s operation sends a clear message to people smugglers and those thinking about abusing our immigration laws: you will be caught and brought to justice swiftly.’

Two men aged 38 and 41 and a 35-year-old woman were arrested by the Home Office’s Immigration Enforcement agency at two addresses in Camberwell and Peckham, south London, on suspicion of conspiracy to assist unlawful immigration.

Two further individuals, a male and female, were found at the Peckham property and identified as illegal migrants from Bolivia.

They will be processed by Home Office immigration officials, the spokesman said.

Around £1,500 in cash and two false identity documents were also discovered at the same address.

The suspects will be flown to Belfast for questioning.

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