Organised criminal gangs recruiting British HGV drivers for smuggling migrants

Organised criminal gangs are actively recruiting British HGV drivers to smuggle desperate migrants both into and out of the UK. The National Crime Agency has launched a probe following a spike in arrests in Kent, which has seen a number of drivers detained as they attempted to board trains or ferries to France whilst carrying people illegally in their vehicles. People smuggling gangs are now known to be targeting British drivers, offering them thousands of pounds to transport people across the border in otherwise legitimate loads.

In some cases, drivers are known to have assisted the criminal gangs in loading people into their trucks; in others, they have turned a blind eye by leaving their vehicles unlocked in specific locations. HGV drivers typically earn around £30,000 per year, so the extra money is hugely tempting to boost their coffers amidst the cost of living crisis. But investigators say the risk of getting caught means the payouts are simply not worth it.

NCA deputy director of investigations Craig Turner said: "We know these crime gangs are actively trying to recruit drivers to work for them, promising them a supposedly low-risk way of making extra money.

"In fact, it is anything but. We have a number of operations investigating this type of criminality, and recent arrests have demonstrated that the chances of getting caught are high. Those who do get caught risk a life-changing prison sentence. It simply isn't worth the risk.

"I'm certain that the overwhelming majority of those in the haulage industry are law-abiding and I would urge them to report any suspicious activity like this to the police or Crimestoppers."

Between July and October this year the agency - dubbed Britain's FBI - has been involved in the arrests of nine lorry drivers in Kent for people smuggling offences.

The most significant was that of Iona Monescu, 49, from Romania, who was detained after 44 Bangladeshi and Pakistani people were found in the back of his trailer at the port of Dover in August. He was sentenced to three years in prison in September.

The NCA says it continues to carry out a number of investigations looking at criminal groups using trucks to smuggle people.

On July 17 this year, seven members of a people smuggling network were jailed for between seven and 13 years each for organising crossings from the UK to France. Five HGV drivers were also jailed for their roles in assisting the gang.

And in June 2023, people smuggling boss Md Moktar Hossain, from Woodford Green, London, was jailed for more than ten years. The NCA investigation into his crime group saw seven lorry drivers convicted and sent to prison.

Another group investigated by the NCA faces trial in January for allegedly smuggling Afghan migrants to the UK in the back of a lorry. The vehicle's driver is among those charged.

Deputy Director Craig Turner added: "The criminal networks offering services to move people out of the UK illegally are often using the same drivers and methods to bring people in, which makes it more important that we take action against them.

"For them, this is a business, and like any other haulier they don't want to 'run empty' while returning to the continent.

"Tackling organised immigration crime is a key priority for the NCA. We have around 100 investigations ongoing into groups or individuals involved in the top tier of this form of criminality, and we are determined to do all we can to target, disrupt and dismantle them."

In 2023 the NCA, alongside Border Force and the charity Crimestoppers, launched a campaign appealing to those working in the haulage industry to stay alert and report suspicious activity.

Those with information can contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111, or online via their website. Further details can be found here at Crimestoppers. In an emergency, always call 999.