Two British Albanians arrested on suspicion of people smuggling

The West Flemish Federal Judicial Police (FGP) has recently started an investigation together with the British NCA into a smuggling gang that uses inflatable boats. In that context, two Albanians were arrested in De Panne on Sunday at 4.30 am. The 34-year-old and the 44-year-old man, both from Basingstoke.

The two crossed the Channel in an inflatable motorboat to pick up twelve transmigrants. They would then smuggle it over to the United Kingdom. Later that day, a third suspect was also arrested in England. According to the public prosecutor of West Flanders, such international cooperation is crucial in the fight against human smuggling. “We want to avoid at all costs that people are endangered in the North Sea,” says prosecutor Frank Demeester.

The British National Crime Agency emphasizes that this form of people smuggling is extremely dangerous. “The people smugglers don’t care at all about the safety of their passengers,” said Brandon Williams.