More than 1.6 tonnes of cocaine with a street value of £126 million were seized by the UK’s Border Force in three major drugs operations over the summer
More than 1.6 tonnes of cocaine with a street value of £126 million were seized by the UK’s Border Force in three major drugs operations over the summer.
And the Mirror can reveal a new team is being launched to tackle smugglers who try to bring illegal substances into the country by sea.
It comes as Home Secretary Yvette Cooper visited Rome yesterday (Sat) to meet her counterpart, Italian Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi, to discuss action against people smuggling gangs, including looking at action to take down the money networks being used by organised immigration crime.
Since July, Border Force has stopped 40% more drugs entering the UK than the same period last year.
The new Maritime Directorate will work closely with other enforcement agencies to improve intelligence and cooperation with other countries.
The Home Office said the improved intelligence would also help tackle people smuggling gangs and reduce small boat crossings.
Border minister Seema Malhotra said: “We are investing more into Maritime operations than ever before, equipping Border Force with additional support and capabilities to prevent illegal drugs entering the country.
“The dedicated efforts of Border Force are vital to protecting the safety of the UK and wellbeing of our communities. Their vigilance, expertise and commitment is crucial to disrupting criminal networks and ensuring that harmful substances do not reach our streets.”
Meanwhile, new figures show the government is on track to deliver the highest number of returns for five years, with nearly 13,500 irregular migrants removed from the UK since the election.
The four biggest ever return flights ever took off since July, and Illegal working raids and arrests up a third as the Labour government bears down on rulebreakers and those exploiting the immigration system.
Ms Cooper said: “Illegal working is a blight on our economy. It is deeply exploitative and undercuts those employers who do the right thing and play by the rules.
Since the election, we have intensified our efforts to crackdown on exploitation and illegal working – the number of operations and arrests are up, and we are on track to meet our target of increasing removals to the highest level for five years.
“I am boosting the capabilities of our immigration enforcement officers to make sure they have the tools they need to further crack down on illegal working and shine a light on the hidden economy and false promises that criminal smuggling gangs are using to encourage people to cross the Channel in small boats. If you employ people illegally, you will face consequences. The rules must be respected and enforced.”
