A man who is suspected of being involved in an organised crime group (OCG) which smuggled people into the UK in a small boat has been arrested by the National Crime Agency (NCA).
NCA officers detailed the 22-year-old Iranian national at an address in the Acocks Green area of Birmingham on Thursday morning, later arresting him on suspicion of conspiring to facilitate illegal immigration.
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The arrest comes following a BBC investigation into the activities of a people smuggling group operating in northern France and the West Midlands.
The man was placed into custody and is due to be questioned.
NCA regional head of investigations, Jacque Beer, said: “This arrest is part of an ongoing investigation into organised immigration crime.
The National Crime Agency worked with French authorities to convict the smugglers (Kirsty O’Connor/PA)
“People smugglers operate for profit without concern for the safety of those they transport, which is why dismantling and disrupting the networks is a priority for the NCA.
“Our investigation continues with the evidence we have gathered today.”
The arrest is part of the 91 ongoing investigations into networks or individuals in the top tier of organised immigration crime or human trafficking, who cause the most harm and are the most difficult to reach.