A number of suspects were arrested after allegedly facilitating the entry of more than 200 Botswanan nationals into the UK illegally
22:02, 03 Jun 2025Updated 22:07, 03 Jun 2025
Home Office raids have been carried out across the UK(Image: Home Office)
Suspected members of a people-smuggling gang was arrested in Oldham and Swinton as part of raids across the UK by the Home Office.
A number of suspects, including an organised crime boss and associates, are now in custody after allegedly facilitating the entry of hundreds of Botswana nationals into the UK.
In the early hours of Tuesday (June 3), five men and one woman were arrested in strikes across the country in Cheltenham, Manchester, Nottingham, Sheffield and Bradford.
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The lead suspect, a 37-year-old Botswana national, was arrested in Cheltenham on suspicion of assisting and planning the illegal entry of other migrants from Botswana into the UK, the Home Office said.
The suspected criminal gang is believed to have facilitated the entry of more than 200 Botswana nationals into the UK illegally over a two-year period. Once in the country, it is believed they assisted in submitting false asylum claims using fake documents in order to fraudulently legalise the migrants stay in the country.
They are also alleged to have assisted the migrants with illegal employment in care homes, working with the most vulnerable and without adequate training or medical expertise.
A number of suspects were arrested after allegedly facilitating the entry of over 200 of Botswana nationals into the UK illegally(Image: Home Office)
Officers acted on intelligence that suggested the lead people-smuggler was exploiting the individuals who were lured to the UK and forced to carry out unpaid work.
Arrests also included a British female, aged 33, in the Oldham area; a British male, aged 36, in the Sheffield area; a Zimbabwean man, aged 39, in the Swinton area; a Zimbabwean man, aged 50, in the Nottingham area; and a British male, aged 46, in the Bradford area.
The six suspects were arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to do an act to help an asylum seeker enter the UK and conspiracy to facilitate the commission of a breach of UK immigration law by a non-UK national.
Security Minister, Dan Jarvis said: “I want to commend the dedication and professionalism of our criminal investigators and Immigration Enforcement officers for these significant arrests. Their tireless efforts have disrupted criminal networks that profit from exploiting vulnerable individuals and undermining our immigration system.
“This operation demonstrates that we will use the full force of the law against those who facilitate illegal entry into the UK for exploitation. Our enforcement teams work day and night to protect our borders and communities from harm, and this successful operation is testament to their commitment.
“The Government remains resolute in our approach to tackle illegal migration and the criminal enterprises that enable it, and through our Plan for Change will continue to restore order to the asylum system that collapsed in recent years.”
The government says it is ‘tightening UK visa controls’ and ‘building a more sustainable workforce’. The strategy contains new financial measures, penalties or sanctions, including for sponsors of migrant workers or students where there is evidence of abuse.
As Immigration Enforcement Criminal and Financial Investigations lead, Phillip Parr added: “This is one of our highest priority investigations due to the scale of the threat, the number of people believed to be involved, the immense harm these victims are potentially at risk of, and the amount of financial gain the suspects stand to make.
“I’m immensely proud of my team’s coordinated and targeted approach in this operation. We’ve not only disrupted this criminal network but also safeguarded potentially hundreds of individuals from further exploitation and harm. This operation demonstrates the power of partnership working in tackling complex organised crime.
“There is no place for those who profit from human misery, and we will continue to use all available powers to pursue and prosecute those involved in these despicable crimes.”
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