Small inflatable boats 'set for people smugglers' seized at East Midlands Airport

The boats were identified in pallets on an air freight shipment being moved from Turkey to the Netherlands

Officers have seized 25 inflatable boats reportedly destined to be shipped to cross-Channel people smugglers.

The shipment went through a freight hub at East Midlands Airport on the way, allowing NCA and Border Force to intercept on Friday.

In July, 25 boats and 25 engines were seized in a maritime consignment at Felixstowe in Suffolk. The boat carrying them had stopped there on the way to Germany.

The NCA estimated the boats could have been used to move up to 1,700 migrants.

"This work is happening both overseas, with international partners, and here in the UK. So far it has led to the seizure of in excess of 1,600 boats and engines, denying their use to criminal networks.

"I've no doubt the boats we've seized here would have ended up being used to risk the lives of a huge number of people in the Channel had we not stepped in. Our investigation continues."

NCA bosses said each boat "could have been used to transport around 70 people across the Channel"

Minister for border security and asylum Anna Turley added: "This seizure of 25 small boats delivers yet another blow to the evil smuggling gangs.

The NCA said about 100 investigations into gangs involved in organisation immigration crime were ongoing.

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