Police Scotland raided 40 businesses across Scotland during a week-long crackdown on organised immigration crime, identifying 10 irregular migrants and four premises operating without licences. The operation, named Operation Lockstream, took place between June 15 and June 20 and involved joint efforts with HM Revenue and Customs and Trading Standards.
Multi-agency operation targets organised crime
Officers visited restaurants, nail bars, car washes, barbers, and vape shops believed to be linked to organised immigration crime. During the week, authorities engaged with 109 people and conducted 43 business compliance checks. Trading Standards officers identified four premises selling alcohol or tobacco without the required licence.
Detective Superintendent Stevie Betram said tackling organised immigration crime remained a priority because of the harm caused to vulnerable people. "It is a fact that organised crime groups exploit vulnerable people by facilitating illegal entry into the UK. This exposes them to dangerous journeys and unsuitable living and working conditions," he said. "Our priority is to protect those at risk, identify the networks and individuals involved and to ensure offenders are brought to justice."
Intelligence-led enforcement
The businesses were selected using intelligence suggesting links to organised immigration crime, which police say is often associated with exploitation of vulnerable people and wider serious organised criminality. According to Police Scotland, organised crime groups profit by facilitating illegal entry into the UK before exploiting migrants through poor living conditions and illegal or unsafe working arrangements.
Police said organised immigration crime frequently overlaps with other serious offences, including human trafficking, modern slavery, county lines drug dealing, drug trafficking, and sexual exploitation.
Disruption and deterrence
Det Supt Betram said the week of coordinated activity was designed to disrupt organised criminal groups operating in Scotland while strengthening enforcement against businesses suspected of facilitating exploitation or breaching regulations. "The week of activity saw law enforcement partners undertaking a period of intensive action to disrupt this type of criminality and making Scotland a hostile environment for those who exploit vulnerable people in our communities," he said.
He added: "These initiatives underline our commitment to keeping Scotland safe and tackling serious organised crime by working together as part of Scotland's Serious Organised Crime Taskforce."
No arrests announced
The operation was part of a UK-wide initiative coordinated by the Organised Immigration Crime Domestic Taskforce (OICDT), which brings together law enforcement agencies to tackle criminal networks involved in illegal immigration. Police Scotland has not announced any arrests or criminal charges linked to the operation. However, officers said intelligence gathered during the week would support ongoing investigations into organised immigration crime and associated offending across Scotland.
