Man, 26, and woman, 40, are arrested over links to suspected people-smuggling gang in Northern Ireland

  • Woman, 40, and man, 26, arrested during police raid in Belfast with 50 officers  
  • Pair were arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to assist unlawful immigration  
  • Woman was also arrested on suspicion of possession of criminal property  

A man and a woman have been arrested in Northern Ireland in an operation targeting a suspected people-smuggling gang. 

A 40-year-old woman and a 26-year-old man were arrested as around 50 officers from the Government's Immigration Enforcement team and the Police Service of Northern Ireland searched two properties in Belfast

The pair, described as naturalised British citizens, were arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to assist unlawful immigration of non-UK nationals. 

The woman was also arrested on suspicion of possession of criminal property. They have been taken into custody in Musgrave Police Station for questioning. 

A 40-year-old woman and a 26-year-old man were arrested as around 50 officers from the Government's Immigration Enforcement team and the Police Service of Northern Ireland searched two properties in Belfast

A 40-year-old woman and a 26-year-old man were arrested as around 50 officers from the Government's Immigration Enforcement team and the Police Service of Northern Ireland searched two properties in Belfast

The pair, described as naturalised British citizens, were arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to assist unlawful immigration of non-UK nationals

The pair, described as naturalised British citizens, were arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to assist unlawful immigration of non-UK nationals

The operation followed an investigation by the Home Office's Criminal and Financial Investigations team. 

Two people have previously been arrested in connection with this investigation. 

The British and Irish governments are working together through the Cross Border Joint Agency Taskforce to disrupt organised crime groups and tackle organised immigration crime, modern slavery and human trafficking. 

Home Secretary Priti Patel said: 'By working hand-in-hand with our Irish partners, we will continue to stop those who seek to abuse the Common Travel Area to enter the UK. 

'People smugglers put lives in extreme danger and I hope these arrests act as a stark warning to criminal gangs that they will feel the full force of our tougher laws. 

Through our New Plan for Immigration, we can truly break their business model and suitably punish them for their callous crimes.' 

The Common Travel Area is an open borders area made up of the United Kingdom, Ireland, Isle of Man, and the Channel Islands. The British Overseas Territories are not included. 

The woman was also arrested on suspicion of possession of criminal property. They have been taken into custody in Musgrave Police Station for questioning

The woman was also arrested on suspicion of possession of criminal property. They have been taken into custody in Musgrave Police Station for questioning

The operation followed an investigation by the Home Office's Criminal and Financial Investigations team

The operation followed an investigation by the Home Office's Criminal and Financial Investigations team

Police officers entering a property in Belfast, as a 40-year-old woman and a 26-year-old man were arrested

Police officers entering a property in Belfast, as a 40-year-old woman and a 26-year-old man were arrested

Ben Thomas, deputy director for Immigration Enforcement criminal and financial investigations, said: 'Today's operation is just one of the ways we are working with our policing partners to take action against those who are attempting to bring people illegally into the country hidden in vehicles. 

'We are committed to dismantling people-smuggling networks and hope these arrests send a clear message to those involved in this type of criminality that we will stop at nothing to bring you to justice. 

'We will continue to work closely with law enforcement colleagues to save lives and ensure that people smugglers and traffickers face the consequences of their despicable crimes.' 

It comes as Taoiseach Micheál Martin has said the UK's new immigration policy has seen a surge in asylum seekers arrive in Ireland. 

Mr Martin added: 'One can see, and maybe sense that that policy announcement, which I thought was a wrong policy announcement by the UK, a shocking sort of initiative in my view, to be doing some agreement with Rwanda, clearly may have motivated people utilising the Common Travel Area to come into the Republic – yes, I think it is one of a number of factors.' 

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