January 27th 2025.
In this digital age, social media has become a powerful tool for connecting people and sharing information. However, it is not always used for good. In fact, many people are being exposed to misleading and dangerous content, particularly when it comes to small boat crossings.
Last year, over 8,000 social media accounts were shut down for promoting the illegal act of smuggling people into the UK. These accounts featured flashy advertisements and video testimonials from individuals who had successfully been smuggled into the country. The National Crime Agency (NCA) was responsible for taking down these accounts, including one that even offered rewards to migrants who referred others to use their services.
The NCA has been working closely with popular social media platforms such as Facebook, X, Youtube, and TikTok to remove these harmful accounts. In fact, last year saw a 40% increase in the number of accounts being taken down compared to the previous year. Since launching their initiative in 2021, the NCA has successfully removed over 16,500 accounts.
Not only were these accounts promoting illegal activities, but they were also spreading false information. Some claimed to provide speedy boat trips from France to the UK, while others offered fake ID documents. Sophie Austin, operations manager at the NCA's Online Communication Centre, stated that social media is a prime way for people smugglers to lure in potential migrants. She added that once they have the person's attention, they move the conversation to encrypted messaging apps, making it harder for law enforcement to track their activities.
Taking down these accounts not only disrupts the criminals' activities but also makes their lives more difficult. The NCA has dedicated more resources to this task as part of their overall strategy to combat illegal smuggling. However, it is just one of the many ways they are actively targeting these networks.
One case that highlights the danger of these small boat crossings is that of Amanj Hasan Zada. Last year, he was arrested and subsequently sentenced to 17 years in jail for organizing these crossings from his home in Lancashire. During the investigation, the NCA discovered videos posted on social media by Zada, where his "clients" can be seen thanking him for his services. One video even shows a group of men aboard a boat to Italy, praising Zada for his assistance.
Similarly, two individuals from Caerphilly, Dilshad Shamo and Ali Khdir, were caught using social media to promote their smuggling services. They shared videos from people they had successfully smuggled, including one of a family traveling by plane who expressed their gratitude towards the two. Both Shamo and Khdir pleaded guilty to their crimes and are currently awaiting sentencing.
The NCA credits their success in removing these accounts to their close collaboration with social media companies and their improved capabilities in detecting these activities. Thanks to their efforts, many individuals have been prevented from falling into the hands of these criminals and being put at risk. However, the fight against illegal small boat crossings continues, and the NCA remains dedicated to protecting innocent people from these dangerous practices.
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