In a coordinated operation, National Crime Agency (NCA) officers, in collaboration with law enforcement partners across Europe, have seized approximately 600 substandard lifejackets intended for use by organised crime groups smuggling migrants across the English Channel in small boats.

The lifejackets, which fail to meet UK and European safety standards, were discovered in a lorry intercepted by the Dutch Royal Marechaussee (KMar) in Zwolle, the Netherlands, on Monday, 9 September. The 23-year-old driver of the lorry was arrested on suspicion of people smuggling-related offences and is currently under investigation by Dutch authorities.

According to the NCA, the lifejackets were suspected to have been purchased by criminal networks facilitating Channel crossings. The shipment, which had initially entered Europe through Italy, was tracked and eventually seized in the Netherlands following a coordinated effort involving the NCA, Italian Guardia di Finanza, and Dutch authorities. UK Border Force also assisted in the operation.

NCA Regional Head of Investigations, Jacque Beer, said:
“Tackling organised immigration crime remains a priority for the NCA, and we are looking to disrupt the criminal gangs engaged in that in any way we can – that includes targeting their supplies of dangerous maritime equipment.

She emphasised that the substandard lifejackets, which did not conform to any safety standards, were deliberately misleading. “These lifejackets would only have been used to dupe those paying for crossings into thinking they were safe when they were not. Some of them were in children’s sizes, again showing the callous nature of those involved. Tragically, we have seen only recently how they don’t care about risking the lives of those they transport.”

The NCA is currently conducting around 70 investigations into the highest-tier organised crime groups involved in people smuggling, with a focus on disrupting the supply of dangerous equipment used in Channel crossings.