A man suspected of masterminding the smuggling of thousands of people across the Mediterranean from north Africa into Italy has been arrested in the UK.
The 40-year-old Egyptian national was detained in west London by officers from the National Crime Agency.
He is now being questioned on suspicion of facilitating illegal immigration and is alleged to be linked to a number of illegal crossings from North Africa to Italy in the last year.
NCA investigators suspect he was working with people smuggling networks in north Africa to organise boats to bring over hundreds of migrants at a time, and was maintaining communication with criminal associates during the crossings.
The man is being questioned on suspicion of facilitating illegal immigration and is alleged to be linked to a number of illegal crossings from North Africa to Italy in the last year
NCA
A similar crossing last October saw more than 640 migrants rescued by the Italian authorities after they attempted to cross in a wooden boat from Libya.
It was taken into port in Sicily.
In another, 265 migrants were rescued by the Italian coastguard from a 20-metre fishing boat found adrift in the Mediterranean in early December.
The boat had left Benghazi in Libya.
And in April this year two further search and rescue operations were mounted following distress calls to the coastguard – in each case more than 600 migrants were on board each boat.
The NCA has worked closely with the Italian Guardia di Finanza as part of the investigation.
Darren Barr, Senior Investigating Officer at the NCA, said: “People smuggling is an international problem and tackling this at every step of the route is a priority for the NCA.
“We suspect this man has been running his operation from the UK, and masterminding the smuggling of thousands of migrants.
NCA investigators suspect he was working with people smuggling networks in north Africa to organise boats to bring over hundreds of migrants at a time
NCA
“The type of boats organised crime groups use for crossings are death traps, and sadly many people have died after incidents in the Mediterranean, which demonstrates the level of danger.
“We will continue to share intelligence and take action with partners to prevent crossings and arrest people smugglers here and overseas.”