Three men have been arrested on suspicion of facilitating illegal immigration and entering the UK illegally, as part of an investigation into a Channel boat crossing which resulted in the deaths of a number of migrants, including a child, off the French coast on Tuesday (23 April).
The men, two Sudanese nationals aged 22 and 19, and a South Sudan national aged 22, were detained last night and this morning by the National Crime Agency (NCA) and partners in Immigration Enforcement, and will now be questioned by investigators from the NCA at a police station in Kent.
Another 55 people who are believed to have been on board the boat which arrived into the UK yesterday have also been identified. They have now been through initial interviews, with further interviews likely to take place over the coming days.
French police continue to investigate the circumstances that led to the deaths. The NCA is closely supporting that investigation alongside Kent Police, Immigration Enforcement and Border Force.
NCA Deputy Director of investigations Craig Turner said:
“This tragic incident once again demonstrates the threat to life posed by these crossings and bring into focus why it is so important to target the criminal gangs involved in organising them.
“We will do all we can with partners in the UK and France to secure evidence, identify those responsible for this event, and bring them to justice.”