A suspected member of an organised crime group which smuggles migrants to and from the UK in lorries has been arrested by the National Crime Agency.

NCA officers apprehended the 42-year-old Iraqi man at an address in Ashford this morning (7 July).

The arrest follows activity at an industrial estate in the town in August last year, where NCA officers saw migrants near two men and a number of HGVs, which resulted in the arrest of another two men.

The crime group is also believed to have arranged migrant journeys to the UK via small boats.

NCA Senior Investigating Officer Lara Cosier said:

"This arrest is part of an ongoing investigation into a large-scale criminal network suspected of smuggling migrants from the UK to France, and in the other direction.

"People smugglers completely disregard the safety or wellbeing of human beings they transport, whether it is in boats or HGVs. They’re sole motivation is making a profit.

“Crime groups smuggling people out of the country are often engaged in bringing people in too, so operations like this allow us to target their UK activities.

"People leaving the UK in lorries may be doing so because they are wanted by law enforcement, they may be trying to dodge French immigration checks, or they may be being trafficked or exploited.

"The risks to both the people being transported and to border security remains, regardless of the direction they are travelling in.”

The NCA currently has more than 100 investigations ongoing into networks or individuals suspected of being involved in organised immigration crime.

The man has been taken into custody where he will be questioned by NCA officers.

7 July 2026