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

  • document NCA Senior leadership structure – April 2026 (text version) New
  • pdf How to register individual users to use the CSEA-IRP Popular
  • pdf How to register your organisation for the Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse Industry Reporting Portal Popular
  • pdf The Online Safety Act and the role of the NCA Popular
  • pdf SARs Reporter Booklet March 2026 Popular
  • pdf Invoice Fraud Leaflet - construction industry
  • pdf SARs in Action Issue 35 Popular
  • pdf NCA Response to His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Policing and Fire and Rescue Services (HMICFRS) Inspections [Vetting and Anti-Corruption Part 2]
  • pdf NCA Response to His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Policing and Fire and Rescue Services (HMICFRS) Inspections [Vetting and Anti-Corruption Part 1]
  • pdf NCA Response to His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Policing and Fire and Rescue Services (HMICFRS) Inspections [CSE]

Latest news on this threat

NCA sign

Six charged in relation to £13.8 million cannabis haul at Birmingham Airport

Six men have been charged as part of a National Crime Agency investigation into the seizure of more than half a tonne of cannabis at Birmingham Airport.

13 April 2026
NCA logo on a car

UPDATE: Alleged small boat pilot charged over four deaths in Channel

A Sudanese national has been charged in connection with the deaths of four small boat migrants, following a National Crime Agency investigation.

10 April 2026
Men jailed for people smuggling operation masterminded from Caerphilly car wash

Men jailed for people smuggling operation masterminded from Caerphilly car wash

Two men have been jailed for 19 years each for their roles in a people smuggling ring moving migrants across Europe after a National Crime Agency investigation.

10 April 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