People Smuggling Crackdown In Northern Ireland Nets Hundreds As Gangs Target UK

Hundreds of individuals have been detained in Northern Ireland as part of a crackdown on people smugglers attempting to illegally transport migrants into Great Britain. The operation, stemming from a UK Home Office initiative known as Operation Comby, has uncovered a significant smuggling route through the Common Travel Area (CTA) that connects Ireland, Northern Ireland, and Great Britain.

Criminal gangs are charging migrants up to €8,000 for what they market as a safer route to the UK, compared to crossing the English Channel in small boats. Authorities say these operations have intensified since last April as part of an ongoing effort to curb abuse of the CTA, a system that allows passport-free travel between Britain and Ireland. This has sparked controversy in Ireland, where concerns have risen about irregular migrants using Northern Ireland as a gateway to the Republic.

A three-day operation this week focused on travel in the opposite direction, targeting smugglers operating through airports and ports in Northern Ireland, Manchester, Liverpool, and other UK locations. Among those detained was an Iranian national attempting to board a flight in Belfast. Posing as a Ukrainian, the man was caught with a counterfeit passport. Immigration officials believe this may be part of a broader smuggling network, potentially operating across Europe, and they are working with Europol to investigate further.

The rise in asylum seekers moving from Britain to Ireland has been a source of political controversy in Ireland, with officials noting a significant increase in asylum applications. Authorities suspect that people-smuggling gangs are exploiting the CTA as a VIP route to the UK, bypassing the dangers of small boat crossings.

Previous Comby operations have led to multiple arrests, the seizure of forged documents, and large sums of money. The Home Office is committed to disrupting these criminal networks, with ongoing efforts to raise public awareness and dismantle the lucrative smuggling business.