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A fishing boat with 69 hidden migrants on board has been intercepted by UK Border Force ships in the English Channel and escorted to Harwich.
The migrants, all Albanians, were questioned about suspected immigration crimes.
The National Crime Agency (NCA) also arrested the three members of the ship’s crew, two Ukrainians and one Latvian.
They were questioned on suspicion of facilitating illegal immigration.
Three crew members were questioned on suspicion of facilitating illegal immigration
The interception, one of the largest this year, was carried out in bad weather and the migrants were found hiding below deck.
The 30-meter ship had sailed the night before from Ostend in Belgium and was intercepted at Great Yarmouth, Norfolk.
NCA Deputy Director of Investigations Craig Naylor said: “This was clearly a significant incident and a significant attempt to violate UK border controls.
“Our investigation into this attempt continues and I would like to thank our partners at the Essex Police, the Border Force and the Immigration Service for all they did last night and their continued work in support of our investigation going forward.
“Working with our partners, we are determined to do everything we can to disrupt and dismantle human smuggling networks and prevent them from exploiting migrants for profit.
“Our aim is to target those who cause harm, protect the most vulnerable while securing the UK’s borders.”
The interception was part of a joint operation between the NCA, Immigration Enforcement and the Border Force.
The migrants were found below deck.
Interior Minister Priti Patel said: “I have made it clear that I will use all arms of the law to crack down on the ruthless gangs that facilitate this criminal activity.
“Yesterday’s operation was a great victory for our intelligence and law enforcement agencies, which stopped a serious illegal enterprise and cut off a source of funding for an organized criminal gang.
“We are unapologetically returning immigrants who have no right to stay in the UK to safe countries with flights every week and we will do our best to make this route unviable.”
“My thanks to all of our operational partners for their role in the important criminal investigation.”
