Major Operation Targets Illegal Migration via UK-Ireland Common Travel Area
While public attention often focuses on small boat crossings from France, a significant crackdown has revealed that criminal gangs are exploiting an alternative route: the Common Travel Area (CTA) between the United Kingdom and Ireland. Law enforcement agencies have highlighted that this arrangement, which permits free movement for British and Irish citizens, is being used as a 'back-entry route' into the UK by illegal migrants and smuggling networks.
Three-Day Crackdown Leads to Multiple Arrests
In a coordinated effort to clamp down on this method, police and immigration officials launched a targeted operation at UK-Ireland seaports and airports, resulting in the arrests of 32 immigration offenders. The Daily Mail observed the operation unfold at Holyhead, where ferry passengers were scanned using live facial recognition technology as they moved through the terminal. Additionally, lorries were thoroughly searched for stowaways and illicit cargo upon entering the port, with separate checks conducted near a motorway outside the town.
Deputy Chief Constable Wendy Gunney, who leads the Domestic Organised Immigration Crime taskforce, coordinated the three-day operation alongside Immigration Enforcement, Border Force, the National Police Chiefs' Council (NPCC), and various police forces. 'The Common Travel Area is exploited by criminal gangs as a back-entry route into the UK, so our operation is about making our borders as robust as they can be,' she stated. 'Creating a visible presence at the border is a good deterrent, and we've been using live facial recognition technology as well.'
Expanding Threats and Technological Responses
DCC Gunney explained that beyond illegal migrants, gangs are also utilising the CTA to traffic drugs and black market goods. Although there is no formal passport control between Britain and Ireland, passengers are required to carry photo identification, and officials regularly perform spot checks. 'The threat from the Common Travel Area is increasing in relation to organised crime elements,' she noted. 'Small boat arrivals are very visible, and there is significant effort directed there, but our job is to ensure all entry points to the UK are protected.'
The facial recognition technology deployed involves vans equipped with cameras that automatically scan facial features of passers-by, recording measurements such as the distance between eyes. This data is then compared against an existing watch-list, with officers verifying matches flagged by the system. While civil liberties activists have criticised this as a 'significant expansion of the surveillance state', DCC Gunney defended it as a 'tried-and-tested technology', asserting that innocent individuals not on watch lists have 'nothing to fear'.
Notable Arrests and Enforcement Actions
The operation extended beyond Holyhead to ports including Loch Ryan in Scotland, Heysham in Lancashire, and Birkenhead on Merseyside. Among those arrested was a man from Lesotho lacking valid UK entry, who was also wanted by Irish authorities for a domestic violence offence. With an extensive criminal history in Ireland, he was promptly returned to Irish custody.
Four Pakistani men arriving at Birmingham airport from Belfast were found without valid UK visas and had outstanding asylum claims. As they had violated reporting conditions by travelling to Northern Ireland, their asylum applications were withdrawn. Ben Thomas, Regional lead for Immigration Enforcement, described the operation as delivering 'swift justice' to those exploiting the CTA.
In a separate incident following a traffic stop on the A55 in North Wales, an Indian man was identified as a visa overstayer with a failed asylum application. He was also suspected of working illegally for a delivery company. The Home Office indicated that deportation efforts are underway, and the company may face fines.
Historical Context and Broader Implications
This crackdown follows earlier incidents, such as in 2024 when 14 Albanians were discovered hiding in a livestock wagon that had travelled from Northern Ireland to the British mainland. In other cases, migrants have been found moving between the UK and Ireland to simultaneously claim benefits in both countries.
Alex Norris, the Minister for Border Security and Asylum, commented: 'We are continuing to deliver in our fight against those who attempt to make a mockery of our borders.' The taskforce has been instrumental in enhancing intelligence gathering and reinforcing border security measures across all potential entry points.
