The UK has sanctioned 25 people-smuggling bosses and enablers as part of a crackdown on irregular migration.
The UK government has imposed sanctions on a network of international criminals involved in human trafficking, including gang leaders, smugglers, fake passport suppliers, underground bankers, and a Chinese company accused of selling boats for illegal crossings.
Under new powers granted by the Sanctions Act, authorities can now freeze assets and impose travel bans on those complicit in smuggling migrants into the UK. The Foreign Office, working with the National Crime Agency (NCA), has identified key individuals and organisations linked to Channel crossings.
Targeted Smugglers and Underground Bankers
Among those sanctioned are:
Seven Iraqi-linked individuals, some accused of smuggling migrants in lorries, while another allegedly runs safe houses in France.
Three "hawala bankers" who move money through an informal underground payment system.
Gang Leaders and Document Forgers
The sanctions also hit:
Two violent North African gangs operating in the Balkans:
The Kazawi gang, known for controlling smuggling routes from North Africa into the EU and brutalising migrants who cannot pay.
The Tetwani gang, notorious for kidnappings, ransom demands, and sexual violence against female migrants.
Four gang bosses, including leaders of the Kazawi and Tetwani networks, an Albanian smuggling ringleader moving people from Belgium to the UK, and a former police translator who built a corrupt officer network through intimidation.
Two Balkan crime groups specialising in fake passports, along with six associates.
Chinese Company Advertised "Refugee Boats"
The list includes Weihai Yamar Outdoors Product Co, a Chinese firm that marketed small boats online as suitable for refugees. Following scrutiny, the company removed the references from its website.
"A Landmark Moment" in Fighting Smuggling
Foreign Secretary David Lammy stated:
"This is a landmark moment in our fight against organised immigration crime. From Europe to Asia, we are targeting smugglers wherever they operate, making them pay for their exploitation of vulnerable lives."
NCA Director General Graeme Biggar added that the sanctions will help "undermine and disrupt" trafficking networks.
Record Channel Crossings in 2025
The crackdown comes as small boat arrivals hit a record high, with nearly 20,000 crossings between January and July 2025—a 48% increase compared to the same period in 2024.
The UK government vows to continue its global efforts to dismantle smuggling operations and hold traffickers accountable.