Three foreign nationals have been arrested and charged with people smuggling after a fishing boat was intercepted off the coast of East Anglia. The National Crime Agency (NCA), together with Immigration Enforcement and Border Force, conducted an intelligence-led operation that led to the vessel being stopped on Tuesday night.
The crew members involved are Igor Kosyi, 56, and Volodymyr Mykhailov, 48, both from Ukraine, and Aleksandrs Gulpe, 43, from Latvia. They appeared at Colchester Magistrates Court and were remanded in custody.
The fishing boat had departed from the Ostend area in Belgium. Border Force cutters Searcher and Vigilant escorted the vessel into Harwich harbour early on Wednesday morning, where the three crew members were arrested without incident.
Authorities discovered 69 Albanian nationals hidden on board the vessel. These individuals were detained on suspicion of Immigration Act offences and are now in the custody of Immigration Enforcement officers. Essex Police also assisted in the operation at Harwich.
NCA Deputy Director Chris Farrimond commented on the case, stating, “This was clearly a significant incident and a bold attempt to breach the UK’s border controls by organised criminals. Our investigation is ongoing. I’d like to thank Essex Police, Border Force, and Immigration Enforcement for their support.”
He added, “We’re determined to disrupt and dismantle people-smuggling networks and stop them exploiting vulnerable migrants for profit. Our aim is to target the criminals, safeguard those at risk, and secure the UK’s borders.”
Originally published by UKNIP.
