Four Vietnamese nationals arrested after ‘advertising Channel crossings on Facebook’ [Video]

Four Vietnamese nationals have been arrested in London and Leicester as part of an investigation into alleged people smugglers advertising illegal Channel crossings on Facebook.

Police allege the group were involved in advertising illegal immigration into the UK via social media posts aimed at the Vietnamese community, charging migrants thousands of pounds to make the perilous crossing by small boat.

National Crime Agency officers arrested a 23-year-old woman at a property in Heathfield Road, Croydon, and a 64-year-old man at an address in Abinger Grove, Deptfprd, on Monday morning.

A 34-year-old man was also arrested in Grasmere Street, Leicester.

They were arrested on suspicion of assisting unlawful immigration. They were later charged and appeared at Croydon Magistrates Court on Tuesday.

The 64-year-old is believed to have acted as a driver, collecting migrants who arrived on small boats and on at least one occasion bringing them back to the Croydon address, said the NCA.

A 25-year-old man was also arrested at the property in Croydon on a …