G7 countries have agreed on a new plan to dismantle migrant smuggling gangs

Representatives of the countries that make up the Group of Seven (G7) have agreed on a major international plan to destroy criminal gangs responsible for smuggling illegal migrants.

The representatives adopted the G7 Anti-Smuggling Action Plan last week during a meeting at the Meeting of Interior and Security Ministers in Avellino, Italy.

The plan will boost UK law enforcement by promoting closer cooperation with G7 partners to strengthen border security, combat transnational organized crime and protect vulnerable individuals from exploitation by migrant smugglers.

Other measures announced in the plan include:

• sharing best practices, including disrupting supply chains that facilitate human trafficking, such as small boat parts, seizing illicit financial assets from criminals, and improving cooperation across global transportation routes
• cooperate with social media platforms and internet service providers to remove harmful content that promotes illegal migration services or advertises fake jobs
• strengthening capacities to monitor and anticipate irregular migration flows at both global and regional levels

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said: “Criminal smuggling gangs organizing small boat crossings are undermining our border security and putting lives at risk. Our new government is quickly accelerating cooperation with other countries to crack down on these dangerous gangs.

“The recently agreed G7 Action Plan places a key focus on international law enforcement and reflects our determination to work with global partners on these shared challenges. New international joint investigation teams will help coordinate cross-border action and will complement the actions we have already taken to establish the UK Border Security Command and support it with new funding.

“The plan will help increase both voluntary and forced returns of migrants to their countries of origin. It aims to provide migrants with more choices and improve the overall management of migration flows.”

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