Operation Symbolry update: Two men charged with people smuggling

21 May 2021 02:00 PM

Two men have been charged with conspiring to facilitate illegal immigration, following a major National Crime Agency investigation into people smuggling.

Mohammed Mokter Hossain, aged 52, of Gaynes Hill Road, Woodford Green, and Noor Ullah, 28, of Church Lane, Leytonstone, were arrested during a series of NCA raids in east London yesterday morning (19 March).

Five other men, all taxi drivers, detained at the same time have been released under investigation, as has a sixth taxi driver arrested separately in Bromley-by-Bow yesterday evening.

Hossain and Ullah are due to appear before Barkingside Magistrates tomorrow, Friday 21 May.

Yesterday’s arrests formed part of a long running NCA investigation, codenamed Operation Symbolry, into a network allegedly involved in smuggling people into and out of the UK in the backs of lorries.