12 Arrested and £56,000 Seized in Cumbria Immigration Crime Crackdown
A major policing operation targeting organised immigration crime across Cumbria has led to 12 arrests and the seizure of £56,000, as authorities step up efforts to disrupt criminal networks operating across the county.
The week-long operation involved Cumbria Police working alongside Immigration Enforcement, Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service, local authority trading standards teams and HM Revenue and Customs.
During the operation, officers spoke to more than 80 people and seized five vehicles. They also confiscated cannabis, prescription medication and approximately 95,000 suspected counterfeit cigarettes as part of wider efforts to identify and tackle criminal activity.
Police carried out checks throughout Cumbria, with arrests made in the Appleby and Penrith areas, Bowness-on-Windermere and near Kendal. The 12 individuals were arrested on suspicion of offences including illegal entry into the UK, assisting unlawful immigration, drug-related offences and money laundering.
Following the arrests, three individuals were placed in the care of Immigration Enforcement, two received cautions, four were released on bail and three were released under investigation. Police have not indicated that all those arrested were involved in the same alleged offences, and investigations remain ongoing.
Detective Inspector Sam Johnson said transport networks could provide opportunities for organised criminal groups to move people, money and other goods across the country.
He explained that organised immigration crime can involve fraudulent documents and the exploitation of vulnerable people who may be brought into the UK and placed in debt to those arranging their movement.
Police stressed that people found in such circumstances may themselves be victims of exploitation, rather than perpetrators of crime.
Detective Inspector Johnson said intelligence gathered during the operation would contribute to further investigations and enforcement activity throughout the year. He added that coordinated action with partner agencies was essential to making it harder for organised criminal groups to operate. Cumbria’s Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner, David Allen, welcomed the joint operation and highlighted the county’s position as a transport route connecting other parts of England with Scotland.
He said organised criminal groups could exploit these routes to move counterfeit goods and people unlawfully, making early intervention important in preventing further offences and protecting vulnerable individuals. Police are encouraging residents to remain alert to possible signs of exploitation, including people being transported to work in groups, working excessively long hours, living in overcrowded accommodation, lacking access to identity documents or appearing to be controlled by another person. Anyone with concerns or information about suspected criminal activity is encouraged to contact Cumbria Police on 101. In an emergency, call 999.
Authorities say cooperation between law enforcement agencies and local communities remains important in identifying criminal networks, protecting vulnerable people and preventing further exploitation.
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