A sniffer dog from Britain played a key role in disrupting Channel smuggling gangs by aiding in the seizure of 76 illegal boats in a significant operation. Named Adele, the dog is stationed at the Bulgaria-Turkey border, where it detects equipment trafficked by smuggling gangs into Europe. Trained by the National Crime Agency, Adele specializes in sniffing out rubber from people smugglers’ dinghies concealed in trucks.
Collaborating with international partners, the NCA has intercepted 76 vessels this year. In a recent intensified operation involving the Home Office, HMRC, Foreign Office, and Bulgarian authorities, officers found several illegal migrants while inspecting 350 freight and passenger vehicles at the Kapitan Andreevo border checkpoint over two days.
Can Gunal, an NCA international liaison officer, emphasized Adele’s role in combating people smuggling networks that exploit the Bulgarian border for dangerous channel crossings. Adele has also successfully detected other illegal items and criminal proceeds.
Julie Roper, leading the NCA operation, highlighted the significance of removing boats to prevent risky crossings and save lives. Notably, Hewa Rahimpur, a notorious gang leader, orchestrated a large-scale human trafficking network that transported thousands of individuals to the UK via small boats. Despite being jailed in Belgium for 11 years, Rahimpur managed to operate his criminal enterprise from Britain, sourcing boats and equipment from various countries.
Recent efforts by UK officers involved gathering forensic evidence from seized boats to bolster intelligence against organized crime groups like Rahimpur’s network. The operation also targeted illegal smuggling activities, including drugs, tobacco, cash, and counterfeit goods. These actions follow previous successful operations that resulted in the confiscation of multiple boats.
Regional Head of Investigations Jacque Beer emphasized the importance of collaboration with Bulgaria in combating criminal networks facilitating dangerous channel crossings. The partnership aims to enhance border security, prevent the use of unsafe vessels, and crack down on organized immigration crime.
Philip Nikolov, representing the Bulgarian Border Customs Police, underscored the necessity of international cooperation to combat cross-border smuggling effectively and ensure a safer Europe and the United Kingdom. The partnership’s success is evidenced by lives saved, cleaner business environments, and a more secure society.
