Ex-Met Police officer 'astonished' at people smugglers using British businesses to transfer money for illegal migrant boat crossings

The investigation by the BBC found that people smugglers are directing illegal migrants to pay for Channel crossings using a network of UK-registered businesses.

Footage from the undercover investigation saw staff at one London shop appearing to tell the reporter, posing as the relative of an illegal migrant trying to cross the Channel, that thousands of pounds could be deposited with them and then sent from that shop in London to a smuggler in France.

Reacting to the investigation, Mr Wettone said praised the "impressive" footage which was "astonishing" to watch.

He told GB News: "It has taken a considerable period of time to gather this evidence, and it is astonishing.

"These businesses are actually linked to Companies House in the UK, so it's almost like there's no deterrent for them to run these businesses, take the money and be involved in people smuggling.

"So it just shows the extent of the network and possibly the challenges that face the National Crime Agency and Border Force in trying to follow the money and see where it leads them."

Mr Wettone highlighted that as well as the UK, the investigation found shops also operating in Belgium, where illegal crossings have also recently began departing from.

He said: "I think there's a car wash in Belgium and a restaurant in Paris that are also taking money to smuggle people over to the UK.

"So it is an international network run by very highly experienced professional organised crime groups."

The ex-Met Police officer explained the "difficulty" the authorities face in cracking down on such money transfers, as the money is taken "out of the UK".

He said: "It's very difficult on occasion to follow the money, see where the money leads you. The difficulty is sometimes, as it alluded to in the report, the money's taken out the country.

"They identified something like £2.9million in available assets that could be seized, but they've only seized £1.6million of it because a lot of this money is taken out the UK, which makes it impossible to retrieve it, to seize it under the Proceeds of Crime Act."

Mr Wettone added: "They might identify a premises or a shop, they are blatantly lying when it comes to being faced with the truth."

He called for an "international effort" from authorities to crackdown on the people smuggling operation alongside the work of the National Crime Agency, as it has become a "national crisis".

He told GB News: "This is now at the national crisis level. The National Crime Agency are working with it, but this needs an international effort to deal with these people smugglers, many of them are in this country.

"They've got contacts abroad, and this needs almost a Europe-wide initiative to deal with the problem, both in the UK but also as I mentioned, Belgium and Paris.

"It is about following the money, but then working with other agencies to seize their assets, give them a deterrent. There seems to be no effective deterrent."

The Home Office has announced a new unit specifically targeting criminal gangs operating from so-called "dodgy shops" on British high streets, with businesses facing closures and cash seizures.

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said of the plan: "Criminal gangs have exploited our high streets to launder their dirty money and undercut honest businesses.

"We are hitting back with a nationwide crackdown to shut these fronts down, seize dirty cash and drive organised crime off our high streets and put bosses behind bars."