A Turkish man suspected of providing boats and engines to human traffickers facilitating illegal Channel crossings has been arrested in Amsterdam, authorities said on Thursday.
The 44-year-old suspect was apprehended on Wednesday after landing at Schiphol airport. He faces extradition to Belgium, where he will be charged with involvement in human trafficking as part of an organized criminal network.
The suspect is believed to have been supplying engines and small boats to smugglers operating in Belgium and northern France. The boats were reportedly shipped from Turkey, stored in Germany, and then moved to northern France for use in the dangerous crossings.
This arrest is the result of a collaborative investigation involving the National Crime Agency (NCA) and law enforcement agencies from the Netherlands and Belgium.
The smuggling operations have tragically led to the deaths of at least 58 individuals making the perilous journey. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper emphasized the government’s commitment to tackling such criminal activity, stating: “We will relentlessly pursue the criminal smuggling gangs making millions out of small boat crossings that undermine our border security and put lives at risk.”
