The National Crime Agency (NCA) has intensified its efforts to combat people smuggling by removing over 8,000 social media accounts promoting dangerous small boat crossings to the UK in 2024. This reflects a 40% increase compared to the previous year and highlights the agency's commitment to disrupting these criminal networks.
Social media has become a key tool for people smugglers, preying on vulnerable individuals seeking a better life. The National Crime Agency (NCA) has revealed that over 8,000 social media accounts promoting dangerous small boat crossings to the UK were shut down in 2024 alone. This represents a 40% increase compared to 2023, bringing the total number of accounts removed since December 2021 to over 16,500.
These accounts, found on platforms like Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Youtube, and TikTok, often featured ad-style video testimonials from individuals who had been smuggled into the UK, praising the services offered. Another tactic employed by smugglers included running contests offering prizes to migrants who referred a friend to their illegal operation. The NCA also targeted accounts that falsely advertised trips using speedboats, exploiting individuals' hopes for a quicker and safer journey. Additionally, accounts selling fake ID documents were also identified and removed. Sophie Austin, operations manager at the NCA’s Online Communication Centre, emphasizes the critical role social media plays in the smuggling business. She states, 'It is a major part of their business model. Once migrants are engaged, they then move conversations onto encrypted messaging apps where they are hidden from law enforcement.'The NCA's proactive efforts aim to disrupt these criminal networks. By taking down these accounts, they make it more difficult for smugglers to operate and hope to deter individuals from risking their lives on dangerous journeys. Recent convictions highlight the severity of these crimes. Amanj Hasan Zada, for example, was sentenced to 17 years in prison in November 2024 after organizing small boat crossings from his home in Lancashire. Investigators uncovered videos he posted on social media featuring individuals he had smuggled, expressing gratitude for his assistance. Dilshad Shamo and Ali Khdir, based in Caerphilly, also utilized social media to promote their smuggling services, sharing videos of families traveling by plane and expressing their happiness. They pleaded guilty to facilitating migrant travel through Europe and await sentencing. The NCA attributes the recent surge in account removals to close collaboration with social media companies and advancements in detection capabilities
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