Skip to content
Quick exit
  • Cymraeg
  • Reporting SARs
  • CSEA Reporting for Industry
NCA Logo
Protecting the public from serious and organised crime
  • Who we are
    • Our mission
    • Our people
    • Our leadership
    • Governance and transparency
    • Inclusion, diversity and equality
    • Publications
  • What we do
    • What we investigate
    • Border vulnerabilities
    • Bribery, corruption and sanctions evasion
    • Cybercrime
    • Child sexual abuse and exploitation
    • Drug trafficking
    • Illegal firearms
    • Fraud
    • Kidnap and extortion
    • Missing persons
    • Modern slavery and human trafficking
    • Money laundering and illicit finance
    • Organised immigration crime
    • Operation Stovewood: Rotherham child sexual abuse investigation
    • How we work
    • Intelligence: enhancing the picture of serious organised crime affecting the UK
    • Investigating and disrupting the highest risk serious and organised criminals
    • Providing specialist capabilities for law enforcement
    • Supporting victims and survivors
    • National Strategic Assessment for Serious and Organised Crime
    • Underworld: Behind the scenes of the NCA Podcast
  • News
    • All news
  • Careers
    • How to join the NCA
    • Applying and onboarding
    • Current vacancies
    • A day in the life
    • Benefits and support
  • Most Wanted
  • Contact us
    • Officer verification
    • Return of seized property
    • Provide information on serious and organised crime
    • Whistleblowing
    • Complaints
    • Media enquiries
    • Suspicious Activity Reports (SARs)
  1. Home >
  2. What we do >
  3. What we investigate >
  4. Border vulnerabilities

Share this page:

Share this page:

Border vulnerabilities

The trafficking of criminal commodities such as vulnerable people, guns and drugs across borders is big business for organised crime. Securing the UK's borders and protecting our communities, business and trade is a priority for the NCA and law enforcement partners.

  document Click here for image text(11 KB)

The threat from border vulnerabilities

The UK border is one of our primary defences against a range of threats but it also has a number of vulnerabilities that are known to and targeted by those who seek to undermine our controls, either for criminal gain, illegal migration or terrorist activity.

Organised crime groups attempt to exploit every means possible to exploit border vulnerabilities and smuggle criminal commodities into the UK. They actively seek any flaws and weaknesses in our ports, airports and transportation services as well as individuals who are willing to facilitate crime through our borders.

Corrupt workers working at ports and airports play a key role in facilitating smuggling and illegal migration.

Our response

We work with partners around the world to try and stem the flow of criminal commodities at source.

We continually assess, analyse and mitigate against vulnerabilities that criminals look to abuse. We share this knowledge with other partners across government and law enforcement to improve border security,  policy and legislation as well as to co-ordinate law enforcement activity.

Border Force is a vital partner in securing our borders. Where BF officers make a seizure and this meets the adoption criteria the NCA will conduct the investigation.  

What you can do to help

You can help secure our borders. If you live near the coast, waterways or a rural airfield and see anything suspicious please report it to your local police or Crimestoppers quoting 'Kraken' (if near a waterway) or 'Pegasus' (if at an airfield).

You should also report any information about individuals abusing their positions at a port or airport. Again please report this to your local police or Crimestoppers.

 

 

Related publications

  • pdf The Cocaine Chemists [Podcast Transcript] New
  • pdf NCA Terms and Conditions of Purchase of Goods and Services
  • pdf Prescribed person reporting 2025-26
  • pdf SARs Reporter Booklet June 2026 Popular
  • pdf Invoice Fraud Infosheet - Education sector Popular
  • pdf 2025 Gender Pay Gap Report
  • pdf SARs in Action Issue 36 Popular
  • spreadsheet NCA Ancillary Order Register May 2026 Popular
  • pdf NCA Response to HMICFRS Effectiveness and Efficiency Report
  • pdf Cyber Choices Brochure 2026 Parents Popular

Latest news on this threat

Bennett custody image

Operation Venetic: Brit who fled to Spain sentenced for masterminding drugs and firearms supply worth £3.75m

A British man who fled to Spain has been sentenced for masterminding the supply of drugs and illegal firearms worth £3.75m.

21 July 2026
Zane Hutton-Lewis

Thai cannabis smuggler jailed for 12 months

A man has been jailed for trying to smuggle around £430,000 worth of cannabis on a flight from Thailand, following an investigation by Scotland’s Organised Crime Partnership team.

21 July 2026
NCA logo

People smugglers who arranged HGV transport for migrants are sentenced

A pair of people smugglers who arranged the transport of Vietnamese migrants to the UK hidden in lorries have been sentenced.

10 July 2026
All news

Latest vacancies

There are currently no open vacancies related to this article. Click on the button below to view all vacancies.

All current vacancies

Share this page:

TOP ˄
Verify an officer using our online reporting tool.
Click CEOP logo: Advice, Help, Report
  • Who we are

  • Our mission
  • What we do

  • How we investigate
  • How we work
  • News

  • Most wanted

  • Careers

  • A day in the life
  • Current vacancies
  • Contact us

  • Missing persons
  • Operation Stovewood
  • Suspicious activity reports
  • Verify an NCA officer
  • Complaints

Follow us

  • Sitemap
  • Privacy and Cookie Policy
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Publications
  • Accessibility statement
© Crown Copyright
© Crown Copyright