Unprecedented Deployment of NCA Officers to Combat People Smuggling Operations

The government is taking unprecedented measures to combat people smuggling, deploying a record number of officers from the National Crime Agency (NCA) to enhance security at UK borders. This initiative reflects a firm commitment to restoring order and control over immigration, particularly concerning small boat crossings.

Significant Increase in NCA Personnel

During a recent visit to the NCA’s headquarters in Stratford, the Home Secretary announced that the agency now boasts nearly 800 officers, a significant rise from just 376 at the beginning of 2025. This increase is part of a broader strategy to bolster the NCA’s capabilities, including the addition of intelligence officers who are crucial in tracking and dismantling smuggling networks.

With this expanded workforce, hundreds of specialised officers are actively engaged in efforts to locate, detain, and prosecute the criminal gangs responsible for facilitating illegal crossings and other forms of organised immigration crime. Working collaboratively with international partners, these officers have successfully seized 1,109 small boats and engines since the recent election, disrupting the supply chains that smugglers rely on. This intervention is estimated to have prevented over 72,000 migrant crossings, highlighting the significant impact of these efforts.

Prime Minister’s Visit to Dover

The announcement coincided with the Prime Minister’s visit to the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre in Dover, where he observed firsthand the operations designed to monitor and secure the Channel. Engaging with personnel from the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, the NCA, and the Border Security Command, the Prime Minister learned about the continuous efforts to track movements across the Dover Strait.

Among the technologies employed are surveillance drones capable of flying for up to 16 hours, which are instrumental in detecting small boat activities and directing officers to the gangs involved. The NCA reported nearly 300 arrests last year, demonstrating a robust response to the illegal smuggling of migrants into the UK.

Funding and Record-Level Operations

This surge in personnel is supported by over £280 million in funding allocated to the Border Security Command. The intensified efforts to dismantle smuggling operations have resulted in a remarkable 55% increase in arrests related to people smuggling in the past year, while overall arrests for organised immigration crime have surged by 74%, underscoring the government’s commitment to combating this issue.

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood emphasised the government’s success in doubling the number of NCA officers focused on immigration crime, stating, “We have seized over a thousand boats and engines, arrested thousands of criminals, and stopped tens of thousands of attempted crossings. There is more to be done, but this government is restoring control at our border.”

Targeting Smuggling Gangs

NCA Director General of Operations Rob Jones highlighted the agency’s prioritisation of smuggling gangs, using the recent increase in resources to enhance arrests, seizures, and disruption of these operations. He noted that the NCA has unique capabilities both domestically and internationally, which are now being leveraged on a larger scale to tackle this global issue. The agency is actively engaged in various activities, from removing social media advertisements used by smugglers to gathering intelligence and making arrests.

Jones conveyed a strong message to smuggling gangs: “Moving people in small boats and supplying equipment gets riskier for you by the day, and we will not stop in our pursuit of you, wherever you are and wherever you operate.”

New Legislation and Consequences for Smugglers

Recent operations have yielded significant results, including the seizure of 25 small boats and engines in Felixstowe, which effectively prevented up to 2,000 potential migrant crossings. The introduction of the endangerment offence under the government’s Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Act 2025 has already led to the sentencing of 10 small boat pilots, who received combined prison terms amounting to nearly 20 years in just two months. This legislation is a vital addition to the government’s toolset for bringing smuggling gangs to justice and safeguarding against dangerous crossings.

This strategic increase in resources and operations builds on the government’s commitment to combating criminal smuggling activities, with disruptions, arrests, and convictions having risen by nearly 50% in the year leading up to March 2026. Since the recent election, nearly 70,000 illegal migrants have been removed from the UK, while collaborative efforts with French authorities have successfully thwarted over 46,000 attempted Channel crossings.