Man charged with people smuggling offences

A man has been charged with people smuggling offences in relation to small boat crossings, the National Crime Agency (NCA) has confirmed.

Vilson Halili, 40, was arrested by NCA officers in Redhill, Surrey, on Thursday.

Following questioning by investigators, he was charged with two counts of conspiring to facilitate illegal immigration, in relation to crossings which happened in 2021 and 2022.

He was also charged with fraud in connection with suspected fake identity documents identified during the operation, and money laundering offences.

Halili, an Albanian national, is expected to appear before Guildford Magistrates' Court on 26 June.

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