Border security officers sent to Balkans to disrupt people-smuggling networks | Immigration and asylum
British border guards have been deployed to the Balkans for the first time to disrupt networks smuggling migrants to the UK.
Officers have been sent to develop new ways of working with the EU’s border agency, Frontex, to track and arrest people smugglers operating on key routes to Western Europe.
As part of the initiative, UK officials are training border guards in the Western Balkans to use British-made drones and biometric tracking systems to track migrants.
Officials are also sharing techniques to detect visa and passport fraud to stop migrants before they reach the Channel.
Shabana Mahmood this week hosted her counterparts from the Western Balkans and other European countries at a London summit aimed at strengthening cooperation in the fight against illegal immigration.
The Home Secretary said: “I have instructed UK law enforcement to explore all options, including carrying out operations in the Western Balkans, to tackle illegal migration routes.
“I promised to do whatever it takes to protect our borders. That’s exactly what I’m doing.”
Last year, nearly 22,000 people were abducted by organized gangs through the Western Balkans, according to the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
Frontex data shows irregular crossings on the route have fallen by 78% in 2024, but UK authorities say the route continues to serve as a major transit route for both migrant smuggling and cross-border drug smuggling.
The UK and Frontex signed a formal working agreement in February 2024 to strengthen cooperation on intelligence sharing, joint operations, training and technical support.
UK Border Security Commander Martin Hewitt said the UK would provide drones and night vision goggles to support police forces in the region in dismantling smuggling operations.
He made the announcement after chairing the Balkan Border Police Chiefs Forum in Sarajevo last week.
Since July 2024, the UK government has signed several joint operational agreements with Albania, Kosovo, North Macedonia and Serbia, specifically aimed at disrupting organized crime groups operating in the Western Balkans.
Next week Keir Starmer is expected to host a leaders’ summit with Western Balkan countries to agree further measures to reduce the number of people entering the UK illegally.
