The operation follows a joint investigation by the UK’s National Crime Agency (NCA) and Belgian Federal Police, supported by colleagues from Germany, France, the Netherlands, Europol and Eurojust.
It began after the NCA received intelligence about a suspicious consignment of tyre inner tubes being shipped to Italy in March 2025.
The inner tubes, which are often given by people smugglers to migrants on Channel boats in place of life jackets, were then transported to several storage locations controlled by the gang in Germany.
Europol explained that once moved to Germany, they would be linked up with inflatable boats, pumps and engines to form “go kits”, each worth over €10,000 (£8,647) on the black market, and suitable for one small boat launch.
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