Iranian man charged over small boat crossings

Image source, NCA

Image caption, The 34-year-old was due to appear before magistrates

An Iranian man living in the UK has been charged for organising small boat crossings across the English Channel.

The 34-year-old was arrested by officers in Preston on Sunday and charged with two counts of facilitating illegal immigration.

He will appear before magistrates at the city later.

The National Crime Agency said the charge was linked to two small boat crossings from France to the UK in November and December 2023.

It said the man was suspected of being a fixer for migrants wishing to travel from Turkey to the UK and was believed to have advertised people-smuggling services on social media.

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