"Tackling organised immigration crime remains a priority"
A 29-year-old Indian national has been arrested in Birmingham over the alleged advertising of people-smuggling services on social media.
The man was arrested at an address in Handsworth on the morning of December 22, 2025, as part of a joint National Crime Agency and West Midlands Police investigation.
Officers believe he was working on behalf of an organised crime network offering routes to illegal migration online, including moving people into the UK in the backs of lorries.
The suspect was arrested on suspicion of facilitating illegal immigration and remains in custody while being questioned by investigators from both agencies.
A number of electronic devices were seized during the arrest and are now being forensically examined to identify further information about the network and those involved.
Following the raid, a second man was discovered at a separate address and arrested for being in the UK illegally. He was later handed over to immigration authorities.
NCA Branch Commander Kevin Broadhead said:
“Tackling organised immigration crime remains a priority for the NCA, and we are determined to do all we can to target, disrupt and dismantle the networks involved.
“Our investigation, which is being conducted alongside partners from West Midlands Police, continues following this arrest.”
The arrest forms part of a wider national effort to disrupt criminal gangs using social media platforms to promote or facilitate illegal migration routes into the UK.
It comes amid growing concern over the number of recently arrived small-boat migrants accused of serious offences.
In early December, two Afghan teenagers were jailed for the rape of a 15-year-old schoolgirl in Leamington Spa soon after crossing the Channel.
An audit also found 11 others were recently convicted for attacking women in Britain.
Latest figures show more than 1,000 foreign criminals, including rapists, killers and terrorists, are currently at large in the UK.
Ministry of Justice (MoJ) data shows rising convictions among foreign nationals in the UK.
Theft convictions by foreign nationals rose by 77.9% since 2021, compared with 55.8% for British nationals.
Robbery convictions increased by 18.9%.
Sexual offence convictions among foreign nationals rose by 62% between 2021 and 2024, with Indians having the highest number of sexual offence convictions of any nationality, with 100.
On December 20, 800 migrants arrived in the country on small boats, marking the biggest December day on record.
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