The Daily Star Ireland
UK authorities have detained dozens of individuals in a coordinated effort to dismantle people-smuggling networks exploiting the free movement between the UK and Ireland. According to the UK Home Office, this operation resulted in 35 arrests across various locations in both the UK and Ireland.
The crackdown, named Operation Comby, was carried out by immigration officers and police forces in Belfast, Liverpool, Manchester, and Scotland over a three-day period. The operation was a joint effort between the UK Home Office, the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI), and An Garda Síochána.
The focus of the operation was on criminal groups that are taking advantage of the Common Travel Area (CTA) between the UK and Ireland. This arrangement allows citizens of both regions to move freely across the border. However, it has raised concerns in Ireland, where allegations suggest that migrants are using Belfast as an entry point to the Republic, as well as moving from Ireland into Britain.
Earlier this year, amid an increase in asylum applications in Ireland, the Irish government noted that the majority of asylum seekers entered via the land border with Northern Ireland. The Minister for Justice at the time, Helen McEntee, stated that over 80% of asylum seekers arrived in the Republic through this route.
The Home Office reported that its checks at key ports, airports, road networks, and private addresses across the UK had uncovered the smuggling operations. The goal of the crackdown is to target these “ruthless criminal gangs” that exploit vulnerable migrants, charging them large sums to enter the UK illegally under false promises of a better life.
During the operation, authorities seized a car, two fake identity documents, and £5,000 in cash. The fraudulent documents are used to help migrants evade border controls, trapping them in further illegal activities.
Jonathan Evans, an Immigration Enforcement Inspector with the Home Office, credited the success of the operation to strong partnerships with law enforcement agencies in both countries. He emphasized that the collaboration sends a clear message to criminals that they will face serious consequences.
Angela Eagle, the UK Minister for Border Security and Asylum, condemned the criminal gangs involved, stating that the UK government will not allow such exploitation of vulnerable individuals. She criticized the gangs for charging exorbitant fees and putting people in dangerous, illegal situations while preying on those desperate to escape hardship.
