TWO men from Wiltshire have been arrested following an investigation into the illegal smuggling of people across the English Channel.

A 49-year-old from Marlborough and a 65-year-old from Calne were part of a group of four who were arrested on Tuesday (June 21) on suspicion to conspire to facilitate illegal immigration.

Peter Smith, branch operations manager for the NCA, said: “The arrests are the latest stage of a complex investigation into the activities of an alleged criminal network involved in moving migrants across the English Channel using small boats.”

Four men in total were detained following a number of raids which included Wiltshire, Birmingham and Blackburn.

“Our enquiries will continue and we are now analysing evidence we have recovered as part of this phase of work,” added Mr Smith.

Wiltshire Police, in co-operation with French authorities, carried out the operation following reports of suspicious activities involving inflatable boats in Kent over September of last year.

Officers from Project Invigor, the taskforce led by the National Crime Agency, and taskforces from Immigration Enforcement, Border Force, the Crown Prosecution Service and the police were all part of the operation to tackle criminal networks which smuggle migrants from abroad.

The men have been granted bail whilst further enquiries are being made.

Full story to feature in next week's Gazette & Herald.