Indian man held in UK over people smuggling social media adverts

London: A 29-year-old Indian national was arrested in Birmingham on Monday as part of an investigation into the advertising of people smuggling services on social media, the UK’s National Crime Agency (NCA) said.

The unnamed man is suspected of working on behalf of an organised crime network moving illegal migrants in trucks. He was arrested on suspicion of “facilitating illegal immigration” following a joint NCA and West Midlands Police investigation.

“A man has been arrested in Birmingham as part of a joint National Crime Agency and West Midlands Police investigation into the advertising of people smuggling services on social media,” the NCA said in a statement.

“The 29-year-old Indian national... is suspected of working on behalf of an organised crime network moving people in the backs of lorries, and was arrested on suspicion of facilitating illegal immigration,” it said.agencies