Rotherham man arrested as part of investigation into people smuggling plot
The group are being questioned over the trafficking people from Vietnam to the UK
Last updated 17th Feb 2026
Five people including a man from Rotherham, have been arrested on suspicion of being part of a smuggling network bringing Vietnamese migrants to the UK.
The 22-year-old was detained at a residence in Rawmarsh earlier today (February 17).
Four men currently being held on remand on charges of money laundering and identity document offences have been re-arrested.
Three of these men, aged 27, 31, and 33, are being held in a Liverpool prison, while a 31-year-old was produced from a Birmingham jail.
The group are alleged to play significant roles in an organized crime group transporting migrants from France to the UK since mid-2024, reportedly using genuine Vietnamese passports to hold people while they paid off debts.
NCA branch commander Jon Hughes said, “Tackling people smuggling remains a top priority for the NCA, and this is one of approximately 100 ongoing investigations targeting groups or individuals both directly involved in organizing journeys, or those who facilitate that criminality.
“People smugglers have no regard about the welfare of those they transport. They purely see human beings as commodities to make money from. Our investigation continues with the evidence we have gathered today.”