NCA helps target people smuggling supplies

Above: NCA officers forensically examining small boat.
Courtesy NCA

National Crime Agency officers have led the biggest international collaboration of its kind at the Bulgarian border targeting people smuggling and the transportation of small boats equipment.

The law enforcement intensification at the border with Turkey saw NCA officers working alongside Home Office International, HMRC and the FCDO, the Bulgarian National Customs Agency, Bulgarian Border Police and Bulgarian General Directorate for Organised Crime.

It saw over 350 freight and passenger vehicles checked over the course of Wednesday and Thursday (5th and 6th November), with results including the detection of a number of migrants attempting to cross the border illegally, triggering an investigation by the Bulgarian authorities.

UK officers also gathered forensics on boats that had previously been seized, which bolstered the intelligence picture against organised crime groups, and identified two further vessels that had not been picked up because of the method of concealment.

They also gave extensive further training for overseas law enforcement partners on OIC investigative techniques, including digital and covert tactics.

The intensification also focused on other commodities such as drugs, illegal tobacco, criminal movements of cash and counterfeit goods.

The activity builds on previous operational successes from this year, including the seizure of 20 boats on 10th August and 26 boats on 26th July. As a result of joint NCA and Home Office activity, there have been 76 boats seized in Bulgaria between 1stanuary and 9th November this year.

The majority of the intensification took place at the Kapitan Andreevo border crossing point in southern Bulgaria but also Gyushevo, Kapitan Petko Voivode, Lesovo, Kalotina and the Green Border.

Kapitan Andreevo is the busiest land border in Europe and the second busiest in the world after US-Mexico. It is the busiest land border in Bulgaria in terms of traffic of persons, vehicles and commodities, and is a key point targeted by human traffickers and criminal smuggling gangs.

NCA Regional Head of Investigations Jacque Beer said: “Bulgaria is a vital entry point for the supply routes used by the criminal people smuggling networks who organise highly dangerous Channel boat crossings.

“Working with our partners in this way shows that international law enforcement is united in its resolve to target and disrupt organised crime groups involved in people smuggling.

“These exercises focus on longer-term ambitions and capacity building as much as they do about seizure results at the time.

“The intelligence we gathered will support our aim of preventing deadly boats and weak engines being used at sea where lives are put in peril.

“The UK’s close partnership with Bulgaria and other overseas partners helps us to work together to crack down on organised immigration crime and illegal migration in an intelligence-led way, and make our borders more secure.”

Philip Nikolov, Head of the Kapitan Andreevo Border Customs Police, said: "The opportunity to collaborate with our international partners is of paramount importance to us. It is only through the exchange of information, synchronised practices, and joint action that we can effectively counter cross-border smuggling and crime, and ensure a safer Europe and the United Kingdom.

“Our partnership consistently yields tangible results, which manifest themselves in lives saved, cleaner business environments, and a more humane society."

FCDO Minister of State for Europe, North America and Overseas Territories, Stephen Doughty said: “International cooperation is absolutely central to this government’s approach to illegal migration and we are grateful for Bulgarian support on this operation.

“Working hand-in-hand with our international partners, we are securing our borders at home and sending a clear message to people-smugglers that their actions will not be tolerated.”

Minister for Border Security and Asylum, Alex Norris said: “The number of small boat crossings we are seeing is shameful. The organised criminal gangs facilitating these dangerous journeys are putting lives on the line – it can’t go on, we will do whatever it takes to secure our borders.

“Our international response is key to breaking their business model and this operation is evidence that enhanced intelligence sharing and closer co-operation will disrupt the supply chain and deliver results.

“Our Border Security Bill will make it a criminal offence to supply or handle small boat equipment intended to fuel immigration crime, with anyone engaging in this heinous criminality facing up to 14 years in prison.”