Four Men Arrested in Migrant Smuggling Bust After 10 Found in Lorry Near Ghent
Four men have been arrested in a major National Crime Agency (NCA) probe targeting a ruthless crime gang suspected of smuggling migrants into the UK hidden in lorries. The bust came after authorities discovered 10 migrants stashed in a tyre-laden truck near Ghent, Belgium, on Thursday 5 March.
Migrants Found in Tyre Lorry Near Ghent
The migrants, believed to be two adults and eight juveniles, are thought to hail from Southeast Asia. Belgian police acted fast on intel from the NCA and arrested the lorry’s driver – a 64-year-old man from Glasgow – at the scene.
NCA Arrests Three More Across UK
Following the Belgian arrest, NCA officers swooped in to detain three more suspects. Two Irish nationals, aged 39 and 48, were caught in Dover on suspicion of facilitating illegal immigration. A third man, 30, was arrested in County Antrim, Northern Ireland, on Friday 6 March.
Firearms Seized as Investigations Continue
All three remain in custody, grilled by NCA investigators. Raids on properties in Northern Ireland and Kent have also been carried out. Notably, two suspected firearms were seized at a Kent address as the investigation ramps up.
This crackdown highlights the ongoing battle against migrant smuggling gangs exploiting vulnerable people in desperate attempts to reach the UK.
