Britain has launched a sanctions regime for people smugglers that it hopes will tackle a multibillion-dollar industry sending record numbers across its borders.
Officials are targeting gang leaders, corrupt police officers and companies selling small boat equipment for Channel crossings. Those involved in the trade in Europe, the Middle East and beyond face having their assets frozen and being banned from travel to the UK.
David Lammy, the Foreign Secretary, said sanctions introduced to target anyone involved in assisting illegal immigration to the UK would be imposed as soon as Wednesday.
The target group ranges from those involved in supplying and financing small boats, suppliers of fake passports, and middlemen putting cash through the hawala system, a legal money transfer system that enables the payments linked to Channel crossings.
The first wave of sanctions will publicly name anyone sanctioned, so it will be illegal for UK businesses and banks to deal with the so-called Mr Bigs of the trade.
First named
The measure is expected to include more than 20 designations, and could include corrupt public officials and police officers in steps to tackle the multibillion-dollar industry.
“For too long, criminal gangs have been lining their corrupt pockets and preying on the hopes of vulnerable people with impunity as they drive irregular migration to the UK,” Mr Lammy said. “We will not accept this status quo.
“That’s why the UK has created the world’s first sanctions regime targeted at gangs involved in people smuggling and driving irregular migration, as well as their enablers.”
Legislation under the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill is designed to increase enforcement powers for police forces and partners to investigate and prosecute people smugglers.
New sanctions aim to target organised crime gangs wherever they are in the world and disrupt their flow of cash, including freezing bank accounts, property and other assets, to hinder their activities.
“It will allow us to target the assets and operations of people smugglers wherever they operate, cutting off their funding and dismantling their networks piece by piece,” said Home Secretary Yvette Cooper.
“There is no hiding place for those who exploit vulnerable people and put lives at risk for profit.”
Experts gave the announcement a cautious welcome as the latest statistics showed more than 23,000 migrants have crossed the English Channel since the start of the year. The rate is running 50 per cent higher than last year, despite government promises to “smash the gangs”.
“Targeting fixers and infrastructure suppliers aims to make them untouchable in the illegal migration business and represents a new front in the UK’s efforts to control a business model that brings profit to the enablers and misery to those caught up in this crime,” said Tom Keatinge, director of the Centre for Finance and Security at the Rusi think tank.
David Haye record
Total fights: 32
Wins: 28
Wins by KO: 26
Losses: 4
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MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League, semi-final result:
Liverpool 4-0 Barcelona
Liverpool win 4-3 on aggregate
Champions Legaue final: June 1, Madrid
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ESSENTIALS
The flights
Emirates flies from Dubai to Phnom Penh via Yangon from Dh2,700 return including taxes. Cambodia Bayon Airlines and Cambodia Angkor Air offer return flights from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap from Dh250 return including taxes. The flight takes about 45 minutes.
The hotels
Rooms at the Raffles Le Royal in Phnom Penh cost from $225 (Dh826) per night including taxes. Rooms at the Grand Hotel d'Angkor cost from $261 (Dh960) per night including taxes.
The tours
A cyclo architecture tour of Phnom Penh costs from $20 (Dh75) per person for about three hours, with Khmer Architecture Tours. Tailor-made tours of all of Cambodia, or sites like Angkor alone, can be arranged by About Asia Travel. Emirates Holidays also offers packages.
GAC GS8 Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh149,900
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Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
Price: From Dh439,000
Available: Now
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The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
Torque: 450Nm at 6,100rpm
Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual
Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km
On sale: Available to order now
Petrarch: Everywhere a Wanderer
Christopher Celenza,
Reaktion Books
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Company%20profile
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UAE squad
Humaira Tasneem (c), Chamani Senevirathne (vc), Subha Srinivasan, NIsha Ali, Udeni Kuruppuarachchi, Chaya Mughal, Roopa Nagraj, Esha Oza, Ishani Senevirathne, Heena Hotchandani, Keveesha Kumari, Judith Cleetus, Chavi Bhatt, Namita D’Souza.
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The biog
Hometown: Cairo
Age: 37
Favourite TV series: The Handmaid’s Tale, Black Mirror
Favourite anime series: Death Note, One Piece and Hellsing
Favourite book: Designing Brand Identity, Fifth Edition
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm
Transmission: 9-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh117,059
PLAY-OFF%20DRAW
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