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Birmingham Raid: Suspect Held Over People-Smuggling Ads on Social Media

Forensic checks on seized devices now guide efforts to trace the lorry-based network.

Overview

  • A 29-year-old Indian national was arrested at a Holyhead Road address in Handsworth on December 22 in a joint National Crime Agency and West Midlands Police operation.
  • He is suspected of facilitating illegal immigration and of working for an organised group that moves migrants hidden in lorries.
  • Investigators seized multiple electronic devices from the property, which are undergoing forensic examination.
  • A second man found at the address was detained for being in the UK illegally and transferred to immigration authorities.
  • The NCA says the investigation continues as part of a wider enforcement push, with the Home Office citing nearly 50,000 removals since July 2024.