Fifteen arrested in immigration crackdown at Cairnryan ferry ports
Officers spoke to 340 people during a two-week operation targeting organised immigration crime at the ports serving Belfast and Larne.
A ferry at Cairnryan. File photo. · Photograph: Billy McCrorie (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Fifteen people have been arrested in connection with immigration offences during a two-week operation at ferry terminals in Dumfries and Galloway.
Operation Lockstream focused on Loch Ryan Port and Cairnryan Port, which run Stena Line sailings to Belfast and P&O sailings to Larne. Officers spoke to 340 people, and those arrested were aged between 20 and 54.
A 55-year-old man was arrested in connection with facilitating immigration. A 36-year-old man was charged over drug offences after drugs worth about £950, cash and an offensive weapon were found. Four people received police warnings for drugs and 11 road traffic offences were detected.
The operation involved Police Scotland, Home Office Immigration Enforcement, HMRC and other agencies.
Detective Superintendent Steven Bertram said criminal groups exploit roads, rail and ports to move people and goods, and that operations like this make it harder for them to work.