Fifteen people have been arrested in connection with immigration and drug offences during a major crackdown at ferry ports in Scotland. The arrests were made at Loch Ryan and Cairnryan ports in Dumfries and Galloway as part of Operation Lockstream, a multi-agency probe coordinated by the Organised Immigration Crime Domestic Taskforce.
The intelligence-led investigation focused on disrupting activity linked to organised immigration crime on the UK’s road, rail and port network.
Operation details and arrests
During the operation across two weeks, police engaged with 340 people at the ports, near Stranraer, and arrested 15 people aged between 20 and 54 in connection with immigration offences. One man aged 55 was arrested in connection with facilitating immigration.
Four people were subjected to police warnings for drug offences. A total of 11 road policing offences were also detected.
Drug seizure and court appearance
A 36-year-old man was arrested and charged in connection with drug offences after police recovered drugs with an estimated value of £950. A quantity of cash and an offensive weapon was also uncovered. He is due to appear at Stranraer Sheriff Court on Monday, October 5.
Detective Superintendent Steven Bertram said: "We are committed to protecting vulnerable individuals and those at risk from organised immigration crime. Criminals will use the road, rail and ports to move people, assets and commodities and will look for every opportunity to exploit potential weaknesses. By carrying out action like this we are reducing criminal activity and making it harder for organised crime groups to operate."
Official responses
Bertram added: "We work closely with partners to detect and stop this type of activity and staff working at ports and on the railways are trained to spot and report the signs of suspicious or criminal behaviour. Our road, rail services and ports are policed around the clock, and strong enforcement action will be taken against those involved in criminality."
Scottish Government Justice Secretary Neil Gray said: "I welcome the results of this latest activity at the ferry ports which was designed to identify and safeguard vulnerable people from exploitation. The operation was supported by the Multi Agency Tasking and Delivery Board based at the Scottish Crime Campus and has made a valuable contribution to the work of Scotland’s Serious Organised Crime Taskforce."
Home Office Border Security and Asylum Minister Anna Turley said: "Criminal gangs exploiting our roads, railways and ports should be in no doubt, we’re coming after them. This coordinated response forms part of the largest crackdown on people-smuggling gangs on record. Enforcement action has delivered more than 6,500 disruptions to smuggling activity including arrests, convictions and seizures since the election."
