This is the moment investigators smashed a multi-million pound people smuggling and human trafficking ring with raids on Organised Crime suspects in Yorkshire and Essex.
Operation Bayburn swung into action today after months of painstaking investigation following the discovery of a doctored passport on a migrant at Manchester Airport.
It traced the modern slavery racket to Batley, West Yorkshire, where a dozen officers gathered at 5.30am for a last minute briefing.
They were given the name of their target as Suspect Alpha, believed to be the ‘Money Man’ who had helped launder £3m of the Organised Crime Group’s profits.
He had been living quietly at a family terraced home in the backstreet, working for a local furniture maker.
An early hours recce established someone was home and checked the front door ready for the officers to carry out a forced entry.
They were accompanied by a ‘Money Dog’ called Gilbert trained in Manchester by the UK Border Agency to sniff out cash.
The officers, wearing stab proof vests and body cams, then climbed into West Yorkshire Police vans at 5.45am ready to roll.
Operation Bayburn swung into action today after months of painstaking investigation following the discovery of a doctored passport on a migrant at Manchester Airport. Pictured: Officers leave the house in Batley, West Yorkshire, with the suspect
It traced the modern slavery racket to Batley, West Yorkshire, where a dozen officers gathered at 5.30am for a last minute briefing
He had been living quietly at a family terraced home in the backstreet, working for a local furniture maker
They were unarmed since according to intelligence reports the suspect had no history of violence.
There then followed a nail-biting 15 minute wait while units in other parts of Yorkshire and Essex got into position for the co-ordinated swoop.
There was concern they were losing the cover of darkness and children may soon be going out to school.
But at 6am the team was given the Go order and the police vans sped through the still deserted streets of Batley.
To achieve the element of surprise and prevent any evidence being lost, a kinetic steel battering ram – called The Enforcer – was used to break in.
The uniformed men, both West Yorkshire Police and Home Office Immigration officers, then made their way into the house.
A cautious approach had been ordered because of concerns children might be inside the property.
A new born baby and 12-year-old child were found inside the house and their safety was ensured before searches began.
They were given the name of their target as Suspect Alpha, believed to be the ‘Money Man’ who had helped launder £3m of the Organised Crime Group’s profits
The officers, wearing stab proof vests and body cams, then climbed into West Yorkshire Police vans at 5.45am ready to roll
To achieve the element of surprise and prevent any evidence being lost, a kinetic steel battering ram – called The Enforcer – was used to break in
The uniformed men, both West Yorkshire Police and Home Office Immigration officers, then made their way into the house. Pictured: The damage done to the door by The Enforcer
Gilbert was then sent into the house with his UK Border Agency handler in an attempt to sniff out cash.
None was found immediately but a quantity of counterfeit documents was recovered from an address in the Greater London area by the Essex team.
A 30-year-old Gambian national was arrested inside the Batley property on suspicion of money laundering and exploitation.
He was led out by police around half an hour later to a waiting custody and taken to a local police station for questioning.
The street remained quiet despite the police presence with most residents still sleeping.
As cars began driving down the street, police maintained a scene guard around the property as the searches inside continued and were expected to take hours.
Seven other people were also detained in six properties elsewhere in Yorkshire and Essex on suspicion of facilitating migrants into the UK.
Searches of the properties are still underway for electronic devices, passports and cash.
A 30-year-old Gambian national was arrested inside the Batley property on suspicion of money laundering and exploitation
He was led out by police around half an hour later to a waiting custody and taken to a local police station for questioning
At 6am the team was given the Go order and the police vans sped through the still deserted streets of Batley. Pictured: The Enforcer being carried to the house
Hundreds of people are believed to have been victims of the racket.
The investigation began when the discovery of a bogus document being used to enter the UK Manchester Airport.
It was a genuine passport, with a genuine visa, but the photograph had been altered.
They are believed to had paid large sums to fly into the UK on passports with their photographs on but other people’s visas and details.
After arriving in the UK, they were trafficked into human slavery in ways that police are not yet prepared to disclose.
Phillip Parr, the Home Office Immigration Enforcement Criminal and Financial Investigations lead, was on the Batley raid.
He said: ‘Victims paid a substantial amount of money to come into the UK and have then been exploited by an Organised Crime Group into modern day slavery.
‘They came here for a better life. But the dream they were sold was turned into a nightmare. They preyed on the weak and vulnerable.
The street remained quiet despite the police presence with most residents still sleeping
‘All they were interested in was profit. We will bring these callous individuals to justice.’
Minister for Border Security and Asylum, Dame Angela Eagle said: ‘This operation is a clear display that we will not stand by and let evil criminal gangs abuse our immigration system.
‘This suspected gang promised their beneficiaries a better life here in the UK. Instead, they face heinous levels of exploitation which is exactly why we are working with law enforcement to ensure survivors of modern slavery are supported and the criminal gangs face justice.
‘Our Border Security Command has £280m of additional funding over the next four years to deliver the step-change required to break their business models and deliver our Plan for Change to restore order to the immigration system.’
Ben Ryan, Chief Operating Officer at Medaille Trust, added: ‘Medaille Trust is delighted to have collaborated on this operation and to have played a part in ensuring that victims were identified and supported to begin their recovery as survivors.
‘We believe that collaborative efforts like this between the Home Office and civil society provide a model for confronting the evils of modern slavery; with a focus on both pursuing abusers and recognising and supporting survivors.’
