Iraqi Man Nabbed in Crackdown on People Smuggling Ring
The National Crime Agency (NCA) has arrested Ramal Briem, 31, in Wolverhampton as part of a major operation to break up a ruthless international people smuggling gang. Briem, an Iraqi national, faces charges of facilitating illegal immigration, linked to a sprawling organised crime group running smuggling operations across the UK.
Smuggled Stowaways Caught Hidden in Lorry
Briem was arrested at a home on Crawford Road, Wolverhampton. Authorities say he was involved in a March 2024 incident where six migrants were secreted in the back of a lorry and transported to Burton-upon-Trent, Staffordshire. The gang also allegedly arranges small boat crossings, casting a wide net over their illicit human trafficking.
Network Members Snared in UK and France
- Four other suspects linked to the same ring were arrested by the NCA in April.
- Three have been charged; one is being extradited from France on related offences.
- Additional arrests include a 23-year-old woman in Croydon, a 64-year-old man in London, and others in Leicester and Croydon based on French warrants.
- Many suspects are Vietnamese nationals, accused of using social media to target the Vietnamese community, offering illegal migration services for hefty fees.
- In France, a dozen people connected to the network were arrested near Paris.
NCA Vows to Keep Hitting Smugglers Hard
“People smugglers operate for profit without concern for the safety of those they transport. This is why dismantling and disrupting these networks remains a priority for the NCA,” said Saju Sasikumar, the NCA’s senior investigating officer.
This crackdown backs Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s tough new push on people smuggling. His government has boosted funding to the Border Security Command, a task force uniting the NCA, Immigration Enforcement, local police, and security services to tighten the UK’s borders and put illegal smuggling rings out of business for good.
