National Crime Agency Target Lorry Drivers Who Are Being Recruited for People Smuggling

Lorry Drivers and Companies Face Serious Legal Consequences for People Smuggling.

The National Crime Agency (NCA) has issued a warning to haulage and logistics professionals after a rise in arrests of HGV drivers accused of assisting illegal immigration through organised criminal networks.

The agency says people smuggling gangs are actively targeting drivers across the UK and Europe, offering substantial sums of money to transport migrants across borders hidden within legitimate cargo loads.

While many drivers are completely unaware of such activity, the NCA’s investigations highlight how quickly a legitimate journey can become the subject of a serious criminal enquiry.

For those accused, the consequences are severe, with convictions for people smuggling carrying lengthy prison sentences and potential confiscation of assets under the Proceeds of Crime Act.

What Are the Offences Involved?

Under Section 25 of the Immigration Act 1971, it is a criminal offence to assist or facilitate the unlawful entry or attempted entry of a person into the UK.

This includes direct involvement – such as concealing individuals in a vehicle – and indirect involvement, such as arranging or permitting the transport knowing (or having reasonable cause to believe) that migrants are entering illegally.

Related offences include:

• Conspiracy to assist unlawful immigration (Criminal Law Act 1977)
• Facilitating illegal working (Immigration Act 2016)
• Money laundering and proceeds of crime offences under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (POCA)
• Neglect of duty by company officers or employers where businesses fail to implement adequate compliance systems

These offences carry a maximum sentence of 14 years’ imprisonment and, in some cases, unlimited fines.

Drivers, haulage operators, and company directors may also face vehicle seizure, confiscation of earnings, or disqualification from operating licences.

How Criminal Gangs Target Drivers

The NCA reports that organised crime groups frequently approach drivers with promises of “quick cash” or “low-risk” opportunities to transport migrants within sealed loads.

Some drivers are offered several thousand pounds per trip; others are manipulated into cooperating through threats or intimidation.

In certain cases, drivers are unaware that migrants have entered their vehicles at ports or lay-bys where gangs operate.

Deputy Director of Investigations Craig Turner said that “those caught face life-changing prison sentences,” warning that the NCA is pursuing multiple active investigations into the recruitment of UK and European HGV drivers.

Between July and October 2025, nine drivers were arrested in Kent alone.

Earlier cases have seen individual drivers sentenced to terms of between three and ten years in prison.

Knowledge and Intent – Legal Thresholds To Be Considered

For a driver to be convicted, the prosecution must prove knowledge or reasonable belief that they were transporting migrants unlawfully.

However, in practice, this can be a complex issue – particularly where drivers operate under pressure, fatigue, or misunderstanding of the load contents.

Examples of disputed evidence include:

• Whether the driver knew that migrants were concealed in the vehicle;
• Whether they had control over where and how the vehicle was loaded;
• Whether the driver was coerced, threatened, or misled by others;
• Whether there was a reasonable explanation for unexplained cargo alterations or stops en route;
• Whether their statement during interview was obtained without proper legal advice or under duress.

To help the defence cause as solicitors we would often scrutinise digital tachograph data, GPS records, CCTV, and phone evidence and anything else that could be used to demonstrate a lack of involvement or intent.

In some cases, expert analysis of load seals, border documents, and customs checks can be decisive in establishing a driver’s innocence.

Modern Slavery, Coercion, and Duress

In recent years, the courts have recognised that some drivers caught up in smuggling operations may themselves be victims of coercion or exploitation.

Where a person has been forced, threatened, or deceived into assisting a criminal enterprise, the defence of duress or a referral under the National Referral Mechanism (NRM) may apply.

Seeking early legal representation is essential to ensure such issues are identified and properly raised.

Corporate and Compliance Risks

Haulage companies and logistics operators can also face investigation if their vehicles are repeatedly used for smuggling or if compliance systems are found lacking.

The Home Office and Border Force can impose civil penalties of up to £10,000 per migrant discovered, even where the driver or company had no direct knowledge, unless they can prove that adequate security procedures were in place.

Operators should therefore ensure that they:

• Follow vehicle security checklists and record all pre-departure inspections;
• Keep vehicles locked and sealed when unattended;
• Use approved secure parking locations;
• Train staff on migrant awareness and reporting protocols;
• Retain evidence of compliance for each journey.

Prosecution, Sentencing, and Confiscation

Sentences in people smuggling cases vary depending on the driver’s role, level of knowledge, and whether there was financial gain.

Even a single journey can result in years of imprisonment, particularly where large numbers of migrants are found or the offence was motivated by profit.

The Crown Prosecution Service and NCA also pursue confiscation proceedings under POCA to recover any alleged proceeds, including cash, property, and vehicles.

Those accused of conspiracy or participation in wider smuggling networks face additional penalties, as courts treat organised immigration crime as a serious, aggravating factor.

Even where a custodial sentence is inevitable, mitigation – such as a guilty plea, early cooperation, limited involvement, or personal vulnerabilities – can significantly reduce the sentence imposed.

Legal Advice for Drivers and Companies

If you are approached by someone offering money to transport passengers or cargo under suspicious circumstances, report it immediately.

However, if you have already been arrested, interviewed under caution, or contacted by the NCA, Border Force, or police, it is vital that you obtain legal representation at once.

Interviews under caution – even those described as a “voluntary interview” – carry serious risks. Anything said can later be used in evidence. Having a solicitor present ensures that your rights are protected and that your account is presented accurately from the outset.

How We Can Help

If you have any questions regarding people smuggling either as a driver or haulage company – contact our team immediately for confidential assistance and 24-hour representation. Call us now on 0161 477 1121 or email us.