A man and a woman have been arrested in Risca as part of an investigation into suspected people smuggling.
A 32-year-old man and a 66-year-old woman were taken into custody after officials from the Home Office’s Immigration Enforcement raided a flat in Commercial Street, Risca, this morning, Thursday, November 16.
As part of the same operation, a 27-year-old man was also arrested in Peckham, London. All three were arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to facilitate a breach of immigration law.
The trio are suspected to be part of an organised crime gang that smuggled around 120 people, predominantly from Albania and Turkey, across Europe and into the UK. The smuggling attempts often involved migrants being concealed in campervans and caravans.
The offences are said to have taken place between March and November this year.
Assistant Director Dave Fairclough, from Immigration Enforcement’s Criminal and Financial Investigation team, said: “This investigation is targeting an organised network suspected of overseeing attempts to evade the UK’s immigration controls.
“People smuggling is a vile trade, which treats vulnerable individuals as little more than goods.
“Many are subsequently exploited for modern slavery purposes – including labour exploitation.
“Our investigation into this suspected organised crime group will continue with the evidence we have seized today.”