A small boat seized in the NCA raid (Image: National Crime Agency)
Channel smuggling gangs have lost out on £16 million in profits after hundreds of boats, engines and critical pieces of equipment were seized.
Britain’s FBI – the National Crime Agency – led a joint operation with the Bulgarian National Customs Agency and Bulgarian Border Police targeting the criminals’ supply networks.
And in 33 separate interceptions, 125 inflatable boats, 128 engines, more than 700 pumps and 300 rubber rings were detected and seized.
The NCA estimated that if all this equipment had been used, the smugglers would have raked in £16.6 million in profit.
Dogs have been trained to sniff out the rubber (Image: National Crime Agency)
A view of small boats and outboard motors used by migrants to cross the Channel (Image: PA)
Bulgaria is used as a key transit country for both the smuggling of migrants and equipment from Turkey, with Kapitan Andreevo a crucial crossing point.
Sniffer dogs at the border have also been trained to smell the rubber used in the boats.
NCA Director of Intelligence Adrian Matthews said: “Bulgaria is a key location on the supply route for the criminal people smuggling networks involved in organising dangerous Channel boat crossings.
“Taking this equipment out before it can reach them not only disrupts their activities and hits their profits, but it also prevents these lethal boats and under-powered engines being used at sea where lives are at risk.
“As close partners and allies, the UK and Bulgaria work together to tackle organised crime and illegal migration, strengthening the border security of both countries.
“And together we are determined to continue doing all we can to disrupt and dismantle the people smuggling networks profiting from misery, wherever and however they operate.”
People smugglers in Turkey have told the Daily Express how they transport migrants into Bulgaria in lorries, switching number plates at the border to avoid suspicion.
The traffickers communicate with one another to give advanced warning they are sneaking migrants into their territory.
Depending on the route the migrants are taking, smugglers will take responsibility for all of the roads in their areas and they will be in charge of smuggling them to the next checkpoint.
Georgi Gospodinov, Head of Customs at Kapitan Andreevo BCP, said: “The joint exercises with partners from the UK law-enforcement authorities are extremely important for us.
“Sharing good practices is a guarantee for good results in tackling efficiently the contraband and illegal human trafficking channels.”
Minister for Border Security and Asylum, Angela Eagle said: “This work shows what can be achieved through international cooperation to go after the criminal smuggling gangs making millions out of small boat crossings.
“Our Border Security Command will turbocharge these efforts, with investigators stationed throughout Europe and additional resource to support operations like these.
“We will not stand by while criminals’ prey on vulnerable people, including women and children.
“Thanks to the efforts of the NCA, Border Force and other Home Office staff, working in lockstep with our Bulgarian allies, our borders are more secure and more lives have potentially been saved. By seizing the equipment used for dangerous and flimsy boats, we are also striking a major blow to the smugglers’ operations and cutting off millions in profits.”