Two men and a woman have been arrested in London this week over suspected involvement in Bolivian human smuggling operation, which allegedly abused the Republic’s Common Travel Area with Northern Ireland.
The three individuals are scheduled to be flown to Belfast for questioning after being suspected of conspiracy to assist illegal immigration.
The UK’s Home Office reportedly believes that the trio had been charging migrants thousands of pounds to fly them from Bolivia into Ireland, and then travelling over the border to the UK, where they would then work illegally.
During the arrests, a male and a female individual located, and are believed to be illegal immigrants from Bolivia. £1,500 worth of cash and two false IDs were also found during the raid.
UK Immigration Minister Rober Jenrick spoke on the matter, emphasising his government’s “determination” to stop “exploitation.”
“Today’s operation sends a clear message to people smugglers and those thinking about abusing our immigration laws: you will be caught and brought to justice swiftly,” he said.
Earlier this year Gript interviewed an Egyptian asylum seeker who said he had worked for 15 years on the black market in the UK before travelling to Ireland to claim refugee status.
EXCLUSIVE: An Egyptian asylum seeker told Gript that he lived in the UK for 15 years working on the black market, but travelled to Ireland after hearing about Justice Minister Helen McEntee’s open visa policy.https://t.co/fkCi1jzik1 pic.twitter.com/gf05a5CpZt
— gript (@griptmedia) September 8, 2022
He claimed that “a lot” of asylum seekers in UK operated on the black market, estimating that there were as many as a million working within the black economy, and that the UK government “knows very well” that this is taking place.
“The government knows very well there is a massive black market there,” he said.
“And they know very well who works there.”