Fifteen people have been arrested in connection with immigration offences following a police operation at two Scottish ferry ports.
The arrests were made as part of Operation Lockstream, which aims to tackle organised immigration crime across the country.
This saw police carry out two weeks of “intensification action” at Loch Ryan and Cairnryan ports in Dumfries and Galloway, focused on disrupting activity linked to organised immigration crime on the UK’s road, rail and port network.
By carrying out action like this we are reducing criminal activity and making it harder for organised crime groups to operate
During the period officers engaged with 340 people and arrested 15 individuals aged between 20 and 54 in connection with immigration offences.
One man aged 55 was arrested in connection with facilitating immigration, and was referred to partners.
Four people were subjected to police warnings for drug offences, and 11 road policing offences were also detected.
A 36-year-old man was also arrested and charged in connection with drug offences after officers seized drugs with an estimated value of £950 along with a quantity of cash and an offensive weapon.
Detective Superintendent Steven Bertram said the force is committed to protecting vulnerable individuals and those at risk from organised immigration crime.
“Criminals will use the road, rail and ports to move people, assets and commodities and will look for every opportunity to exploit potential weaknesses,” he said.
“By carrying out action like this we are reducing criminal activity and making it harder for organised crime groups to operate.
“We work closely with partners to detect and stop this type of activity and staff working at ports and on the railways are trained to spot and report the signs of suspicious or criminal behaviour.
“Our road, rail services and ports are policed around the clock, and strong enforcement action will be taken against those involved in criminality.
“While action from ourselves is ongoing I would appeal to anyone who sees something that doesn’t look right, who is worried about someone, or sees something that looks suspicious, to contact us.”
Scottish Government Justice Secretary Neil Gray said: “I welcome the results of this latest activity at the ferry ports which was designed to identify and safeguard vulnerable people from exploitation.
“The operation was supported by the Multi Agency Tasking and Delivery Board based at the Scottish Crime Campus and has made a valuable contribution to the work of Scotland’s Serious Organised Crime Taskforce.”
Home Office border security and asylum minister Anna Turley said: “Criminal gangs exploiting our roads, railways and ports should be in no doubt, we’re coming after them.
“This coordinated response forms part of the largest crackdown on people-smuggling gangs on record.
“Enforcement action has delivered more than 6,500 disruptions to smuggling activity including arrests, convictions and seizures since the election.”