A suspected ringleader of a gang accused of smuggling hundreds of individuals throughout the Mediterranean in "death trap" boats has been arrested within the UK.

The 40-year-old man is alleged to have orchestrated crossings of a whole lot of migrants at a time from North Africa into Italy.

Officers from the National Crime Agency (NCA) detained the suspect on Wednesday afternoon as he was strolling on a avenue in Hounslow, west London.

The Egyptian nationwide is alleged to be linked to dozens of unlawful boat crossings, the bulk from Libya.

The NCA says it has launched greater than 90 investigations into organised immigration crime and smuggling networks.

Darren Barr, senior investigating officer on the NCA, stated: "People smuggling is an international problem and tackling this at every step of the route is a priority for the NCA.

"We suspect this man has been operating his operation from the UK and masterminding the smuggling of hundreds of migrants.

"The type of boats organised crime groups use for crossings are death traps, and sadly many people have died after incidents in the Mediterranean, which demonstrates the level of danger."

Investigators say the suspect was working with folks smuggling networks in North Africa to organise boats to carry over a whole lot of migrants at a time, and was sustaining communication with legal associates in the course of the crossings.

An analogous crossing in October 2022 noticed greater than 640 migrants rescued by the Italian authorities after they tried to cross in a picket boat from Libya.

It was taken into port in Sicily.

In one other crossing, 265 migrants have been rescued by the Italian coastguard from a 20-metre fishing boat discovered adrift within the Mediterranean in December.

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The boat had left Benghazi in Libya.

And in April 2023, two additional search and rescue operations have been mounted following misery calls to the coastguard - in every case greater than 600 migrants have been on board every boat.

The suspect is being questioned on suspicion of facilitating unlawful immigration.

His arrest comes after a vessel carrying a whole lot of individuals sank off the Greek coast final week.

At least 78 migrants are identified to have died however many extra are feared to have drowned.

The UN's human rights workplace says that as much as 500 individuals are nonetheless lacking.

The NCA stated the most recent arrest will not be believed to be linked to the catastrophe.

Content Source: information.sky.com