Man suspected of supplying small boats to people smugglers arrested

A man suspected of being a significant supplier of small boats equipment to people smugglers has been arrested in Amsterdam following a joint operation by the UK’s National Crime Agency (NCA) and Dutch and Belgian police.

The man is suspected of supplying engines and boats to smugglers in northern France, according to the NCA.

The Turkish national, 44, was arrested at Schiphol Airport on Wednesday and will be extradited to Belgium to face charges of human smuggling.

UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said the arrest was a “significant piece of the jigsaw” in tackling Channel crossings.

But Sir Keir added he was “not pretending it [was] the silver bullet”.

Authorities said the man, who has not been named, shipped supplies from Turkey, stored them in Germany, then transported them to northern France.

He was arrested after authorities learned he was travelling from Turkey to the Netherlands.

NCA director general for operations Rob Jones said the man is thought to be a “major supplier” of “highly dangerous” boats and engines to smugglers operating in Belgium and northern France.

He called the arrest a milestone in one of the agency’s “most significant investigations into organised immigration crime”.

Sir Keir said the arrest showed the government’s “approach of working with international partners to smash the people smuggling gangs” was working.

“Criminal gangs have been getting away with this for far too long,” the prime minister said.

Earlier this month Sir Keir announced an extra £75m to police the UK’s borders, vowing to “treat people smugglers like terrorists”.

He said Thursday’s arrest was “an important step”, but that other measures would also be necessary to reduce crossings.

More than 50 people have died trying to cross the English Channel in 2024.

Over 32,000 people have made the crossing in 2024 so far – more than the total figure of 29,437 for 2023.