Migrant smuggling gangs targeted as Germany strikes deal with UK | World | News

Germany has pledged to strengthen its laws to make it easier to prosecute people smugglers who allow short boat crossings to Britain, as the two countries signed a new agreement aimed at tackling drug-related crime. ‘immigration.

Berlin has confirmed its intention to reform its legal framework so that “facilitating the smuggling of migrants into the United Kingdom” will be clearly a criminal offense under the agreement, the Interior Ministry said.

The reforms will provide German prosecutors with improved tools to manage the supply and storage of dangerous small boats.

As part of the agreement, the two countries will also commit to sharing information that could help remove content relating to migrant smuggling from social media platforms and target the full routes of criminal smuggling networks. migrants.

The announcement comes ahead of the UK and Germany jointly hosting the Calais Group in London, a meeting of ministers and police officers from both countries, along with France, Belgium and the Netherlands, to discuss security issues. migration to Europe.

At Tuesday’s meeting, delegates are expected to agree on a detailed plan to combat smuggling gangs in 2025.

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said: “For too long, organized crime gangs have exploited vulnerable people, compromised border security in the UK and across Europe and put thousands of lives at risk. .

“We are clear that this cannot continue.

“Germany is already a key partner in our efforts to combat migrant smuggling, but we can always do more together.

“Our new joint action plan will strengthen our partnership with Germany, strengthening the security of our respective borders while addressing the root causes, ultimately saving lives. »

Nancy Faeser, German Federal Minister of the Interior, said: “We are now stepping up our joint efforts to combat the brutal activities of international smugglers.

“This is at the heart of our joint action plan agreed in London.

“This will allow us to put an end to the inhumane activities of criminal migrant smuggling organizations.

“By packing people into inflatable boats under the threat of violence and sending them across the Channel, these organizations are putting human lives at risk.”

She added that “many of these crimes are planned in Germany”, and that the agreement would help counter “this unscrupulous enterprise with even greater determination”.

“This means maintaining intense investigative pressure, optimizing the exchange of information between our security authorities and rigorously investigating financial flows to identify criminals operating behind the scenes,” he said. said Ms. Faeser.

Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp criticized the announcement, saying it “does not go far enough”.

He said: “The British public deserves a serious plan to control our borders and stop criminal gangs.

“The National Crime Agency said a deterrent was needed to reduce the number of level crossings, but Labor abandoned the only deterrent before it even started.

“Meanwhile, the number of illegal immigrants arriving here continues to rise, with an 18% increase over the same period last year, and more than 20,000 people have crossed the border since the election. “