Albanian women arrested in Banbury on suspicion of facilitating illegal immigration

Watch: An Albanian woman believed to be responsible for helping transport migrants to the UK in small boats has been arrested in a National Crime Agency investigation.

The 31-year-old Albanian national was arrested at a property on Middleton Road in the town. The raid was part of a sustained National Crime Agency(NCA) action against organised people smuggling, and was watched over by NCA Director General, Graeme Biggar, and then Home Secretary, Rt. Hon. Suella Braverman.

Jacque Beer, NCA Regional Head of Investigations, said: “This is a proactive investigation in response to intelligence that Albanian organised crime groups were acting as brokers, seeking to facilitate the illegal migration of Albanian nationals using established transportation networks.

“People smugglers only care about money, they don’t care about migrants’ safety or security.

“Channel crossings are utterly perilous, which is why disrupting and dismantling criminal networks is a priority for the NCA and our partners.

“This is an international problem, with people smugglers also targeting other countries.

“These criminal groups are transnational, making international law enforcement collaboration essential. We are targeting offenders who impact the UK at each stage of the journey – from source, in transit and to the destination.”

Then Home Secretary, Rt. Hon. Suella Braverman, said: “Today’s operation sends a clear message that we are committed to bringing to justice the criminal gangs behind these deadly journeys across the Channel. The NCA is carrying out vital work with our international partners to tackle people smuggling networks who treat human lives as a commodity.