Targeted Action Against Human Smuggling Networks
Recent operations by Immigration Enforcement have dealt a significant blow to organised criminal gangs engaged in the illegal smuggling of individuals from Ireland to the UK. In a focused initiative, authorities arrested 49 suspects over a three-day period, targeting various UK ports.
From 22 to 24 September, law enforcement agencies conducted patrols across seaports, airports, and transport networks throughout Northern Ireland, Scotland, England, and Wales. This strategic enforcement aimed to apprehend those circumventing UK immigration regulations.
Known as Operation Comby, this multi-agency initiative has seen over 250 organised criminals and immigration offenders arrested since the latest election, with 113 individuals subsequently removed from the UK. The operation has also facilitated the seizure of nearly half a million pounds in cash, underscoring its impact on illegal activities.
Strengthening Border Integrity
Operation Comby is designed to combat the misuse of the Common Travel Area (CTA), a longstanding arrangement that allows free movement between the UK and Ireland for British and Irish citizens. This operation complements Immigration Enforcement’s Operation Gull, which routinely targets abuse of the CTA, resulting in nearly 1,000 arrests in the past year alone.
Anna Turley, the Minister for Border Security and Asylum, remarked on the initiative, stating, “We are bearing down on these organised criminal gangs who operate on wicked lies and deception. Individuals who think they can evade our laws will quickly discover that their efforts will not succeed.” She highlighted Operation Comby as a clear demonstration of Immigration Enforcement’s commitment to disrupting criminal networks and removing individuals without the right to remain in the UK.
Recent Arrests and Intelligence Gathered
At Belfast International Airport, authorities apprehended two Romanian women who had entered the UK illegally after travelling from Ireland to Northern Ireland without the necessary permissions. Subsequent investigations suggested that they could be victims of human trafficking, leading to the collection of intelligence on the criminals responsible for their journey. One woman was detained for removal to Romania, while the other opted to return voluntarily to Ireland.
In a related operation, Belfast Harbour Police intercepted a vehicle at Belfast Port that was transporting four Romanian nationals. A search of the vehicle uncovered £130,000 worth of counterfeit Apple products, resulting in the arrest of all four individuals, who now face removal from the UK.
Ongoing Efforts and Future Plans
Eddy Montgomery, Director of Enforcement, Compliance and Crime, emphasised the importance of these operations: “As part of our wider crackdown on abuse of the Common Travel Area, Operation Comby employs an intelligence-led approach to disrupt organised immigration crime and target the networks exploiting these routes. Our central aim is to protect vulnerable individuals while dismantling the criminal gangs that exploit them.”
Between July 2024 and June 2026, Immigration Enforcement conducted nearly 3,000 enforcement visits in Northern Ireland, leading to over 2,400 arrests. Of these, approximately 1,000 individuals have since been returned to their home countries, with around 500 of them being sent back to Ireland.
Increased Funding and Resources for Immigration Enforcement
The Home Secretary has announced plans to double the Immigration Enforcement budget by the 2028/29 fiscal year, alongside a 60% increase in workforce numbers. This investment is expected to result in tens of thousands more raids, arrests, and removals of individuals without the right to remain in the UK.
The government is actively working to restore control and order at the borders, having already removed over 80,000 immigration offenders and foreign criminals from the UK since the election. These ongoing efforts reflect a robust commitment to enhancing border security and tackling organised crime.