A suspected member of an international human trafficking ring accused of smuggling thousands of people across the English Channel has been arrested in Germany.
41 years old German citizens were detained following a raid on a farm in Lotte, Westphalia, northwest Germany, in the early hours of Tuesday.
The man, named Dirk P by Der Spiegel, is accused of storing equipment such as inflatable boats, boat engines and life jackets on his property.
He is also suspected of “inhuman and life-threatening smuggling as well as membership of a criminal organization”, according to a European Arrest Order issued by Belgian authorities.
When officers arrived at the ranch this morning, the suspect was on the run.
A police dog later found him hiding in the attic.
Farm hideout in Lotte, Westphalia
Diesel police dog has found a hiding place
Today’s arrest comes after the largest-ever international campaign targeting an accused gang move up to 10,000 people on Channel on small boats.
A total of 39 suspected smugglers or supporters were arrested and 52 properties were searched by authorities in the UK, France, Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands in a joint raid. July 2022.
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During searches in Germany last summer, many exhibits were seized, including 119 inflatable boats, 33 boat engines, 966 life jackets, 64 mobile phones and tablets and about 27,000 cash euro.
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The group is thought to have charged around 3,500 euros (£3,000) for a seat in a dinghy, which usually carries up to 60 people on board when they are sent on a perilous journey from France.
In total, more than 45,000 people are thought to have arrived in the UK in small boats last year.
