Dozens of boats, engines and other small boat equipment have been seized in Germany, as part of a joint investigation involving the National Crime Agency.
On 21 May 2026 NCA officers joined German partners in an operation which saw more than 30 boats, more than 20 engines, 360 pumps and more than 9,000 life jackets seized following raids on a number of locations in the North Rhine Westphalia region.
The raids were part of an international investigation involving the NCA, German Federal Police (Bundespolizei), the Public Prosecutor's Office in Dusseldorf and led by OLTIM, the French National Police unit specialising in organised immigration crime.
Some of the equipment seized was found in "go kits" - boat, engine, pump and fuel - packaged up and ready to be taken to the French coast imminently.
Had the boats seized during the operation made it to the coast these boats could have been used to transport more than 2,000 people to the UK illegally.
NCA Director International Will Middleton, said:
"The NCA continues to work with partners in Germany, France and across Europe to tackle the supply lines for equipment used by people smuggling gangs.
"This operation will have dealt a significant blow to the network involved, preventing boats and engines making it to the French coast, and I'm grateful for the support of our law enforcement partners in France and Germany.
"Tackling organised immigration crime remains a top priority for the NCA, and we're determined to do all we can to target, disrupt and dismantle the gangs who risk lives for profit."
Minister for Border Security and Asylum, Alex Norris said:
"By seizing dozens of small boats and engines which would have been used for illegal Channel crossings, we're striking the smuggling gangs where it hurts – their pockets.
"Thanks to the excellent co-operation between the National Crime Agency and our international partners, thousands of potential small boat crossings have been prevented.
"With disruptions to criminal smuggling activity including arrests, convictions and seizures up by nearly 50%, we're delivering a direct blow to those who think they can abuse our borders."
The operation on 21 May follows a similar series of raids in Germany in March, which saw four Syrian nationals arrested in an operation involving the NCA and partners from Belgium, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Europol and Eurojust. Boat equipment was also seized.
And in January, in a separate case, a man who supplied thousands of boats and engines to people smugglers operating in the English Channel was jailed for 11 years following a joint operation involving the National Crime Agency and Belgian authorities. NCA investigators believe that Adem Savas' network supplied equipment used in around half of all Channel crossings throughout 2023. Three co-defendants were given sentences totalling 38 years.
17 June 2026
