Almost 50 people have been arrested during a coordinated enforcement operation targeting suspected organised people-smuggling and immigration crime linked to travel between Ireland and the United Kingdom.
A total of 49 arrests were recorded during a three-day operation carried out from September 22 to September 24. Authorities conducted checks at ports, airports, roads and railway locations across Northern Ireland, England, Scotland and Wales as part of efforts to identify people suspected of facilitating unlawful movement across the border.
The operation, known as Operation Comby, focuses on criminal activity associated with routes between Ireland and the UK. Officials say some organised groups attempt to exploit the arrangements of the Common Travel Area, which allows British and Irish citizens to travel between the two countries without routine passport controls.
Authorities say the operation is intended to target organised criminal networks rather than simply individuals suspected of immigration offences. Enforcement teams use intelligence gathered across different agencies to identify suspected facilitators and investigate the networks behind cross-border activity.
The latest arrests add to the wider number of people detained since Operation Comby was introduced. According to government figures, the operation has resulted in more than 250 arrests involving organised criminals and immigration offenders since the election, with 113 people subsequently removed from the UK.
One investigation during the latest operation involved two Romanian women who were stopped at Belfast International Airport after arriving from Ireland. Officials said the women did not have the necessary permission to enter or remain in the UK.
However, investigators also considered whether the women could have been victims of trafficking. The case highlights the distinction authorities make between people suspected of facilitating unlawful immigration and individuals who may have been exploited by criminal networks.
One of the women was detained for removal to Romania, while the other returned voluntarily to Ireland. Information obtained during the investigation was also used to develop intelligence concerning people suspected of facilitating their journey.
Another case emerged at Belfast Port, where police stopped a vehicle following information shared with enforcement agencies. Four Romanian nationals were found inside the vehicle and were arrested.
Officers searching the vehicle also discovered counterfeit Apple products estimated to be worth approximately £130,000. The four individuals face possible removal from the UK while inquiries continue.
The operation forms part of a broader government effort to tackle organised immigration crime. Official figures show that 3,896 organised immigration crime disruptions were recorded during the year ending June 2026, an increase of 48% compared with the previous year.
Enforcement activity has also increased in Northern Ireland. Government figures indicate that Immigration Enforcement carried out almost 3,000 enforcement visits in the region between July 2024 and June 2026. Those operations resulted in more than 2,400 arrests and almost 1,000 returns, including nearly 500 people returned to Ireland.
Authorities have also continued using Operation Gull at ports and airports in Northern Ireland. The operation is designed to identify suspected abuse of the Common Travel Area and has contributed to almost 1,000 arrests over the past year, according to government figures.
Officials involved in the latest crackdown said intelligence-sharing between agencies remains central to identifying suspected organised crime networks. Investigators are continuing to examine information obtained during the September operation.
The government has stressed that enforcement measures aimed at organised immigration crime do not change the existing travel arrangements between the UK and Ireland for British and Irish citizens.
The latest operation also demonstrates the complexity of cross-border immigration investigations. While authorities are pursuing people suspected of facilitating unlawful entry, some individuals encountered during such investigations may themselves be vulnerable to trafficking or exploitation.
With 49 arrests made during the three-day operation, investigators are now assessing the evidence gathered and determining what further action may be taken against those suspected of involvement in organised people-smuggling or related offences.
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