Man arrested during investigation into human smuggling

A man has been arrested and charged as part of the investigation into a suspected people smuggling ring operating in the United Kingdom.

Ramal Briem, an Iraqi national residing in Wolverhampton, was arrested by National Crime Agency officers on Thursday.

The 31-year-old was arrested on suspicion of aiding illegal immigration at a property on Crawford Road in the city.

He is alleged to have been involved in a smuggling operation in March 2024 in which six people were transported in the back of a lorry to Burton-upon-Trent in Staffordshire.

Investigators also link him to an organised criminal gang involved in small boat crossings. Four suspected members of this group were arrested by the NCA in April.

Three of them were later charged, and extradition proceedings are underway against a fourth because he is wanted in France.

Mr Briem was later charged with aiding and abetting and appeared before Wolverhampton Magistrates’ Court on Friday.

Saju Sasikumar, NCA senior investigator, said: “This arrest is part of an ongoing investigation into organised immigration crime.”

“Human smugglers operate for profit, with no regard for the safety of those they transport, whether they are travelling in the back of trucks or small boats.

“Therefore, dismantling and disrupting the affected networks remains a priority for the NCA.”

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