Gang leaders among first to be hit by small boat sanctions
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First sanctions targeting people-smuggling gangs take effect
First wave of sanctions aimed at those involved in assisting illegal immigration. They include a small boat supplier in the Balkans and a company in China. Foreign Secretary William Hague said it was a ‘landmark moment’ for the UK. He said: ‘We are taking the fight to the people-smugglers who enable irregular migration. We are making them pay for their actions’ The move follows legislation being introduced under the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill.
The sanctions are targeting organised smuggling groups in a bid to hit those involved in assisting illegal immigration to the UK. Picture: SAMEER AL-DOUMY/AFP via Getty Images
By Rebecca Henrys
The first wave of sanctions aimed at key figures in people-smuggling gangs have come into force in a bid to hit those involved in assisting illegal immigration to the UK.
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They target 25 individuals and entities including a small boat supplier in Asia and gang leaders based in the Balkans and North Africa.
They also hit “middlemen” putting cash through the Hawala legal money transfer system in the Middle East, which is used in payments linked to Channel crossings.
Albanian Bledar Lala, leader of the Belgian operations of an organised smuggling group, and a company in China that advertised small boats for people smuggling on an online marketplace are among those sanctioned.
Foreign Secretary David Lammy said it was a “landmark moment in the Government’s work to tackle organised immigration crime (and) reduce irregular migration to the UK.”
He added: “From Europe to Asia we are taking the fight to the people-smugglers who enable irregular migration, targeting them wherever they are in the world and making them pay for their actions.
“My message to the gangs who callously risk vulnerable lives for profit is this: we know who you are, and we will work with our partners around the world to hold you to account.”
The measures 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 be illegal for UK businesses and banks to deal with anyone named on the list.
The move follows legislation being introduced under the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill to ramp up enforcement powers for police forces and partners to investigate and prosecute people smugglers.
Unmasked: Faces of migrant small boats criminals revealed for first time
Foreign Office names 25 criminals involved in smuggling people across borders to the UK. Gang leader Bledar Lala is among those named by the Foreign Office. Banker Muhammed Khadir Pirot, who controls payments from Iraq to Europe via Turkey, was also hit with sanctions. Iraqi-linked traffickers Goran Assad Jalal and Hemin Ali Salih were also named. Those named carried out a range of jobs facilitating fake passports, transporting engine parts and moving cash. Foreign Secretary David Lammy said the initiative is “just the beginning” and other countries have shown an interest in following the UK’s lead. The sanctions scheme is similar to the targeting of Russian oligarchs linked to the invasion of Ukraine. It comes days after a landmark treaty was signed with Germany – where gangs have been found to work together on people smuggling. It is hoped the move will help deliver a blow to an industry which has grown to be worth over £10billion a year in the last five years. It follows legislation being introduced under the Border Security Bill to ramp up enforcement powers.
Criminals responsible for hundreds of dangerous small boat crossings are being sanctioned – meaning they face having their assets seized and will be barred from entering the UK
The Government has named 25 criminals involved in smuggling people across borders to the UK
These are the faces of gangsters and crooks responsible for hundreds of deadly small boats crossings.
Today they become the first people smugglers in the world to be sanctioned after the first wave of criminals was named. All face having their assets seized, and anyone in the UK caught doing business with them will face hefty sanctions.
Among the 25 traffickers and organisations named by the Foreign Office are notorious gang leader Bledar Lala. The Albanian leads the Belgian operation of an organised criminal group earning huge sums moving people across Europe. Also pictured is Mariwan Jamal, who controls money movements through a Hawala banker. This handles payments to people-smugglers from migrants in Iraq, the Government said.
Fellow banker Muhammed Khadir Pirot, who controls payments from people being smuggled from the Kurdistan region of Iraq to Europe via Turkey, was also hit with sanctions.
And Iraqi-linked traffickers Goran Assad Jalal and Hemin Ali Salih were also named. The duo are known to have helped smuggle migrants across the Channel in the backs of lorries, the Foreign Office said. The list also includes former Serbian police translator Alen Basil, who leads a network with the help of corrupt officers.
Scroll down for the full list of those sanctioned, and the reasons
Bledar Lala is a notorious gang leader responsible for smuggling migrants (Image: FCDO) Banker Muhammad Khadir Pirot has also been sanctioned (Image: FCDO)
The individuals and entities names a small boat supplier in Asia and gang leaders based in the Balkans and North Africa. The Foreign Office has also hit “middlemen” putting cash through the Hawala legal money transfer system in the Middle East. This is used in payments linked to Channel crossings.
Writing for The Mirror, Foreign Secretary David Lammy said: “Any credible plan starts with more pressure on smugglers. They’re the ones risking vulnerable lives. They’re the ones raking in the profits.
“In foreign policy, we often use sanctions to ramp up pressure on others. We’ve already seen how effective our sanctions have been in disrupting cyber crime and hitting Putin’s war chest. But until today nobody has been using this powerful tool to degrade smuggling networks.
People trafficker Goran Assad Jalal has been named by the Foreign Office (Image: FCDO) Hemin Ali Salih has smuggled people on lorries (Image: FCDO)
“I said I would change that. And this week, I have.” He said the initiative is “just the beginning” – and other countries have shown an interest in following the UK’s lead.
Mr Lammy wrote: “We are going to identify new targets. And now, when we identify someone plying this vile trade overseas with connections to Britain, we have another tool in our arsenal to do something about it.
“We are pushing for others to follow our lead. I’ve already spoken to partners, in Europe and beyond, about introducing similar powers. There’s a lot of interest – others can see Britain is setting out a bold new approach.”
Mariwan Jamal is linked to money transfers for smuggling gangs (Image: FCDO)
Those named on the list will be banned from entering the UK. The sanctions scheme is similar to the targeting of Russian oligarchs linked to the invasion of Ukraine. Those named carried out a range of jobs facilitating dangerous crossings – from providing fake passports, transporting engine parts and moving cash.
Ministers hope the move will help deliver a hammer blow to an industry which has grown to be worth over £10billion a year in the last five years. UK firms who deal with sanctioned individuals will face hefty fines worth hundreds of thousands of pounds.
The move follows legislation being introduced under the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill to ramp up enforcement powers for police forces and partners to investigate and prosecute people smugglers.
It comes days after a landmark treaty was signed with Germany – where gangs have been found to store small boat components – to work together on people smuggling. German law meant that previously it was unable to step in to stop smuggling to the UK as it is not a member of the EU.
Foreign Secretary David Lammy has announced a string of sanctions (Image: WPA Pool, Getty Images)
Announcing the sanctions regime would be put in place earlier this week, Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said: “The new sanctions regime marks a decisive step in our fight against the criminal gangs who profit from human misery. 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.”
Full list of those who have been sanctioned
Iraqi-linked people-smuggling
Goran Assad Jalal, formed part of an organised crime group which stowed migrants in refrigerated lorries which crossed the English Channel from France to the United Kingdom on at least ten occasions between January and March 2019.
Hemin Ali Salih, helped smuggle migrants into the UK in the backs of lorries.
Dedawan Dazey, a people smuggler who runs safe houses for migrants in Northern France before they are smuggled to the United Kingdom.
Roman Ranyaye, an Iraqi people smuggler responsible for the smuggling of migrants from Asia to Europe.
Azad Khoshnaw, for supplying inflatable boats, onboard motors and other maritime equipment for use in people-smuggling of migrants from France to the UK.
Nuzad Khoshnaw, for equipping gangs in Northern France with outboard motors, inflatable boats, and other maritime equipment for use in people-smuggling to the UK.
Nihad Mohsin Xoshnaw, for providing inflatable boats, outboard motors and other maritime equipment used by migrants to cross the English Channel from France.
Hawala Network
Muhammed Khadir Pirot, a hawala banker who controls payments from people being smuggled from the Kurdistan region of Iraq to Europe via Turkey.
Mariwan Jamal, controls money movements through a Hawala banker, which handles payments to people-smugglers from migrants in Iraq.
Rafiq Shaqlaway, involved in hawala banking as an advisor to migrants looking to pay smugglers operating routes into Europe via Turkey.
North African gangs operating in the Balkans
Kazawi Gang, a people-smuggling network which controls people-smuggling routes from North Africa into the EU known to deal out harsh punishments to migrants who are unable to pay.
Tetwani Gang, known as one of the Balkan’s most violent people-smuggling gangs, members are reported to hold migrants for ransom and sexually abuse women unable to pay their fees.
Gangland bosses
Bledar Lala, leads a smuggling ring moving people from Belgium across the English Channel to the UK.
Alen Basil, a former police translator who through violence and intimidation became boss of a large people-smuggling network.
Mohammed Tetwani, the head of the ‘Tetwani’ gang and self-styled “King” of Horgos in Serbia.
Yassine Al Maghribi Al-Kasaoui, the boss of the “Kazawi” gang.
Balkan gangs supplying fake passports
Kavač Gang, a Balkan organised crime organisation known to use fake passports to smuggle its gang members between the Balkans and Turkey.
Škaljari Gang, an organised crime organisation in Montenegro that smuggles criminals between the Balkans and Turkey.
Dalibor Ćurlik, procures fake passports and forged documents for use in the Kavač gang’s people-smuggling.
Almir Jahović, member of the Kavač gang, which is involved in supplying fake passports for smuggling gang members across borders
Marko Petrović, a member of the Kavač gang which sources false identification and passports for use in people-smuggling.
Nikola Vein helps the Škaljari Gang secure fake passports and travel documents for use in people-smuggling.
Ratko Živković, a Škaljari Gang associate, which gathers fake passports for the purpose of smuggling gang members across borders.
Dejan Pavlović, a member or close associate of the Škaljari Gang, which supports the manufacture of false identities and passports.
The following company based in China has been designated over the manufacture of inflatable boats being advertised for people-smuggling.
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Weihai Yamar Outdoors Product Co
Gang leaders among first to be hit by small boat sanctions
Gang leaders among first to be hit by small boat sanctions. Foreign Secretary David Lammy described the move as a “landmark moment” But experts said the impact was likely to be limited given the scale of smuggling networks. More than 21,000 people have made the dangerous small boat crossing so far this year – a 56% increase on the same period in 2024. The BBC has confirmed one of the men on the list was interviewed as part of the Smuggler’s Trail podcast. He told the BBC’s Sue Mitchell and Rob Lawrie he could make up to £100,000 in a single night through putting people on small boats to the UK from near Calais. The smuggler, who has worked in people-trafficking for several years, said his capture would not stop anything as others would take his place. He confirmed a child on a boat he had organised had drowned recently, but claimed he “did not want to” put them on the boat.
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Gang leaders and small boat suppliers are among the first 25 targets to have their UK assets frozen in an effort to combat migrants crossing the Channel. The suspected criminals are also banned from travelling to the UK, after they were the first to be hit by a wave of new sanctions targeting people-smuggling. The list includes Albanian Bledar Lala, linked to smuggling migrants from Belgium, and Alen Basil, a former police translator now said to be running a people-trafficking network from Serbia. Foreign Secretary David Lammy described the move as a “landmark moment” but experts said the impact was likely to be limited given the scale of smuggling networks.
UK investigators can now seize the British assets of sanctioned individuals and groups, while firms in Britain must cut any financial ties with them. Among the targets is a Chinese company, Weihai Yamar Outdoors Product Co, accused of manufacturing inflatable boats being advertised for people-smuggling. Also on the list are people accused of sourcing fake passports, middlemen facilitating illicit payments and gang members involved in people-smuggling via lorries and small boats.
The BBC has confirmed one of the men on the list was interviewed as part of the Smuggler’s Trail podcast. As part of securing the interview the BBC promised to protect his identity. The man called Britain’s immigration system a “big joke” and claimed to have smuggled himself in and out of the UK repeatedly. He told the BBC’s Sue Mitchell and Rob Lawrie he could make up to £100,000 in a single night through putting people on small boats to the UK from near Calais. The smuggler, who has worked in people-trafficking for several years, said his capture would not stop anything as others would take his place. He confirmed that a child on one of the boats he had organised had drowned recently, but claimed he “did not want to” put them on the boat. Despite this, he refused to provide life jackets for those using boats he had organised, saying it “doesn’t matter” to him. The BBC understands the smuggler was arrested recently but managed to evade detention before his identity could be confirmed.
In a statement, Lammy said: “From Europe to Asia we are taking the fight to the people-smugglers who enable irregular migration, targeting them wherever they are in the world and making them pay for their actions. “My message to the gangs who callously risk vulnerable lives for profit is this: we know who you are, and we will work with our partners around the world to hold you to account.” But Oxford University’s Migration Observatory said the impact could be limited. Its director Dr Madeleine Sumption said she would be “surprised” if the sanctions were the “game changer” to end small boat crossings. “There are so many people involved in the industry that targeting people individually is probably only going to have an impact around the margins,” she told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme on Tuesday. She added: “The impact is dependent to an extent on the co-operation of other countries where smugglers are operating.” Conservative shadow home secretary Chris Philp said “freezing a few bank accounts in Baghdad or slapping a travel ban on a dinghy dealer in Damascus” would not stop small boat crossings. “The gangs aren’t scared – because Labour won’t detain, deport or even pretend to enforce the border,” Philp said. “We must deport illegal immigrants immediately on arrival, it is the only way to end the pull factor and deter crossings.” Challenged over whether the sanctions would have an impact, Migration Minister Seema Malhotra told the BBC that freezing assets would leave groups unable to interact with the UK economy and “disrupt” their operations.
Since coming to power in July last year, Labour has announced a series of measures to tackle people-smuggling, including a new criminal offence of endangering the lives of others at sea. Legislation going through Parliament sets out plans to use counter-terror powers against people-smugglers – with suspects facing travel bans, social-media blackouts and phone restrictions. But the latest figures show 2025 has already set a new record for small boat arrivals. More than 21,000 people have made the dangerous crossing so far this year – a 56% increase on the same period in 2024.
UK sanctions notorious people-smuggling gangs and their enablers in global crackdown
UK sanctions 25 targets at the heart of people-smuggling networks that drive irregular migration to the UK. Sanctions come on day 1 of the UK’s world-first dedicated sanctions regime targeting irregular migration and organised immigration crime. Foreign Secretary David Lammy: ‘We know who you are, and we will work with our partners around the world to hold you to account’ The sanctions cover a range of different activities from supplying small boats explicitly for smuggling, to sourcing fake passports, middlemen facilitating illicit payments through Hawala, and the gangland leaders themselves. All of those sanctioned today are publicly named and barred from engaging with the UK financial system, helping to further undermine their operations. The sanctions powers will give the UK the power to pursue progress of a wide range of organised immigration. crime networks, including those who facilitate or enable their offending. The UK is determined to use every tool at our disposal to target, disrupt and dismantle the criminal networks involved in people-Smuggling, preventing harm to those they exploit for profit.
Sanctions come on day 1 of the UK’s world-first dedicated sanctions regime targeting irregular migration and organised immigration crime.
Action marks latest step in government’s campaign to secure Britain’s borders and reduce irregular migration, delivering on the Plan for Change.
Gang ring leaders, key intermediaries and suppliers of people-smuggling equipment have today [July 23] been hit with the first ever sanctions targeting irregular migration by the UK.
Today’s sanctions target individuals and entities involved in people-smuggling and driving irregular migration to the UK, from a small boat supplier in Asia, to informal Hawala money movers in the Middle East, to gang leaders based in the Balkans and North Africa.
They cover a range of different activities from supplying small boats explicitly for smuggling, to sourcing fake passports, middlemen facilitating illicit payments through Hawala, people-smuggling via lorries and small boats, and the gangland leaders themselves.
Sanctions can disrupt the flow of money and materials – including freezing property, bank accounts and other assets – which allow organised criminal gangs to operate this vile trade.
The plans are a key example of the FCDO using innovative foreign policy approaches to deliver on the government’s Plan for Change. The regime will be the world’s first dedicated to targeting people-smuggling and organised immigration crime, with the exploitation of vulnerable people by criminals and their associated networks being one of the key drivers of irregular migration to the UK.
Foreign Secretary David Lammy said:
This is a landmark moment in the government’s work to tackle organised immigration crime, reduce irregular migration to the UK and deliver on the Plan for Change. From Europe to Asia we are taking the fight to the people-smugglers who enable irregular migration, targeting them wherever they are in the world and making them pay for their actions. My message to the gangs who callously risk vulnerable lives for profit is this: we know who you are, and we will work with our partners around the world to hold you to account.
Among those sanctioned today is Bledar Lala, an Albanian who is in control of the ‘Belgium operations’ of an organised criminal group which smuggles migrants from Belgium across the English Channel to the United Kingdom.
Sanctions have also been brought against a company in China which has advertised their small boats on an online marketplace explicitly for the purpose of people-smuggling. The boats advertised are of the type used by criminal gangs in which migrants are packed, before being sent across the Channel at huge risk.
The UK is also sanctioning Alen Basil, a former police translator who went on to lead a large smuggling network in Serbia, terrorising refugees, with the aid of corrupt policemen. Basil was subsequently found to be living in a house in Serbia worth more than one million euros, bought with money extorted from countless desperate migrants.
Also sanctioned is Mohammed Tetwani, the self-styled “King of Horgos”, who brutally oversaw a migrant camp in Horgos, Serbia and led the Tetwani people-smuggling gang. Tetwani and his followers are known for their violent treatment of refugees who decline their services or cannot pay for them.
Today’s package also includes individuals like Muhammed Khadir Pirot, a hawala banker involved in informal money transfer networks, which people-smugglers use as a way of taking payment from migrants.
All of those sanctioned today are publicly named and barred from engaging with the UK financial system, helping to further undermine their operations.
NCA Director General Graeme Biggar said:
The NCA is determined to use every tool at our disposal to target, disrupt and dismantle the criminal networks involved in people-smuggling, preventing harm to those they exploit for profit and protecting the UK’s border security. These new sanctions powers will complement that NCA activity. We have worked with the FCDO and partners to progress the designation of these sanctioned persons. They will give the UK a new way of pursuing, undermining and frustrating the operational capability of a wide range of organised immigration crime networks, including those who facilitate or enable offending.
Today’s designations are the first made under the UK’s new Global Irregular Migration Sanctions Regime. The regime is a world first and empowers the FCDO to impose sanctions not only on individuals and entities involved in people-smuggling to the UK, but also any financiers and companies found to be enabling their activities.
The FCDO has worked closely with the National Crime Agency and other partners to develop its cases and ensure they complement law enforcement activity.
Today’s announcement is part of the FCDO’s three-pronged ‘disrupt, deter, return’ strategy to tackle irregular migration globally. In addition to disrupting organised immigration crime networks through sanctions, the FCDO works with source and transit countries to deter would-be migrants from making a dangerous journey in the first place and works with the Home Office to negotiate the return of people who have no right to be here to their countries of origin, including criminals and failed asylum seekers. Since the election, over 35,000 people have been returned, up 13% on the same period in the year before.
Background
The individuals and entities sanctioned today can be seen below:
Iraqi-linked people-smuggling
Goran Assad Jalal, formed part of an organised crime group which stowed migrants in refrigerated lorries which crossed the English Channel from France to the United Kingdom on at least ten occasions between January and March 2019.
Hemin Ali Salih, helped smuggle migrants into the UK in the backs of lorries.
Dedawan Dazey, a people-smuggler who runs safe houses for migrants in Northern France before they are smuggled to the United Kingdom.
Roman Ranyaye, an Iraqi people-smuggler responsible for the smuggling of migrants from Asia to Europe.
Azad Khoshnaw, for supplying inflatable boats, onboard motors and other maritime equipment for use in people-smuggling of migrants from France to the UK.
Nuzad Khoshnaw, for equipping gangs in Northern France with outboard motors, inflatable boats, and other maritime equipment for use in people-smuggling to the UK.
Nihad Mohsin Xoshnaw, for providing inflatable boats, outboard motors and other maritime equipment used by migrants to cross the English Channel from France.
Hawala Network
Muhammed Khadir Pirot, a hawala banker who controls payments from people being smuggled from the Kurdistan region of Iraq to Europe via Turkey.
Mariwan Jamal, controls money movements through a Hawala banker, which handles payments to people smugglers from migrants in Iraq.
Rafiq Shaqlaway, involved in hawala banking as an advisor to migrants looking to pay smugglers operating routes into Europe via Turkey.
North African gangs operating in the Balkans
Kazawi Gang, a people-smuggling network which controls people-smuggling routes from North Africa into the EU known to deal out harsh punishments to migrants who are unable to pay.
Tetwani Gang, known as one of the Balkan’s most violent people-smuggling gangs, members are reported to hold migrants for ransom and sexually abuse women unable to pay their fees.
Gangland bosses
Bledar Lala, leads a smuggling ring moving people from Belgium across the English Channel to the UK.
Alen Basil, a former police translator who through violence and intimidation became boss of a large people-smuggling network.
Mohammed Tetwani, the head of the ‘Tetwani’ gang and self-styled “King” of Horgos in Serbia.
Yassine Al Maghribi Al-Kasaoui, the boss of the “Kazawi” gang.
Balkan gangs supplying fake passports
Kavač Gang, a Balkan organised crime organisation known to use fake passports to smuggle its gang members between the Balkans and Turkey.
Škaljari Gang, an organised crime organisation in Montenegro that smuggles criminals between the Balkans and Turkey.
Dalibor Ćurlik, procures fake passports and forged documents for use in the Kavač gang’s people-smuggling.
Almir Jahović, member of the Kavač gang, which is involved in supplying fake passports for smuggling gang members across borders
Marko Petrović, a member of the Kavač gang which sources false identification and passports for use in people-smuggling.
Nikola Vein helps the Škaljari Gang secure fake passports and travel documents for use in people smuggling.
Ratko Živković, a Škaljari Gang associate, which gathers fake passports for the purpose of smuggling gang members across borders.
Dejan Pavlović, a member or close associate of the Škaljari Gang, which supports the manufacture of false identities and passports.
The following company based in China has been designated over the manufacture of inflatable boats being advertised for people smuggling.
Weihai Yamar Outdoors Product Co
Background to the Global Irregular Migration sanctions regime
Using the powers conferred by the Sanctions and Anti-Money Laundering Act (the Sanctions Act) the Government has laid secondary legislation before Parliament that introduces a new Global Irregular Migration sanctions regime. The Regulations will be debated by both Houses of Parliament when they return from the summer recess in line with the made affirmative procedure.
The UK Sanctions List FCDO – UK Sanctions List Search – GOV.UK
Asset freeze
An asset freeze prevents any UK citizen, or any business in the UK, from dealing with any funds or economic resources which are owned, held or controlled by the designated person. UK financial sanctions apply to all persons within the territory and territorial sea of the UK and to all UK persons, wherever they are in the world. It also prevents funds or economic resources being provided to or for the benefit of the designated person.
Travel ban
A travel ban means that the designated person must be refused leave to enter or to remain in the United Kingdom, providing the individual is an excluded person under section 8B of the Immigration Act 1971.
Director disqualifications
Gang leaders and corrupt officials could be named in smuggling sanctions
Gang leaders and corrupt officials could be named in smuggling sanctions. Individuals and companies expected to be hit with asset freezes, travel bans, and restrictions from engaging with the UK’s financial system. Migration Advisory Committee said the impact could be limited. Foreign Secretary David Lammy said the sanctions regime was “the first of its kind anywhere on the planet” In the first six months of this year, more than 20,000 people crossed in small boats, an increase of nearly 50% on the previous year, according to Home Office data.
1 day ago Share Save Caroline Hawley BBC Diplomatic Correspondent Rachel Hagan BBC News Share Save
EPA People financing small boats will be targeted in the wave of new sanctions
Gang leaders, corrupt officials and police officers, fake passport dealers and firms supplying small boats could be publicly named in UK sanctions targeting people-smuggling. The first measures are due to be unveiled on Wednesday and are seen as central to government plans to tackle criminal networks behind the crossings. Individuals and companies are expected to be hit with asset freezes, travel bans, and restrictions from engaging with the UK’s financial system under the sanctions. It is understood the first tranche will include the names of around two dozen people accused of facilitating the trade or profiting from it – but the Migration Advisory Committee said the impact could be limited.
Its deputy chair, Dr Madeleine Sumption, said she would be “surprised” if the sanctions were a “game changer for the industry as a whole, and for the existence of the small boats route”. “There are so many people involved in the industry that targeting people individually is probably only going to have an impact around the margins,” she told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme. She added: “The impact is dependent to an extent on the co-operation of other countries where smugglers are operating.” Further sanctions packages are expected to include corrupt public officials and police officers, while the initial list published on Wednesday is intended to signal the type of targets the UK is pursuing as part of longer-term efforts to disrupt smuggling networks. Sir Keir has pledged to “smash” people-smuggling gangs and made tackling illegal migration at source a key election pledge last year. The government says criminal gangs are preying on the hopes of vulnerable people – but questions have been raised over how easily sanctions can be enforced, particularly given the international nature of smuggling networks. Foreign Secretary David Lammy said the sanctions regime was “the first of its kind anywhere on the planet” and a key step in ending “the status quo” where criminal gangs prey on “vulnerable people with impunity”. Speaking on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, he added: “We are leading, others will follow.” As well as ringleaders in the trade, the sanctions are expected to target enablers like financial middlemen, who push money through Hawala networks, an informal system for organising money transfers often used by smugglers. In the first six months of this year, more than 20,000 people crossed in small boats, an increase of nearly 50% on the previous year, according to Home Office data.