Police in Kent have arrested 22 people following a focused two‑week operation to disrupt organised immigration crime, seizing drugs, cash and illicit tobacco and carrying out checks on vehicles and businesses in a bid to deter criminal networks operating across the county.
Multi-force, multi-agency effort
The operation ran between 21 September and 7 October and involved Kent Police working alongside colleagues from Essex Police and the Metropolitan Police. Officers established stop checks at the Dartford Crossing and elsewhere to intercept vehicles travelling into and out of Kent.
Police said raids and targeted inspections were carried out in town centres and at businesses including vape shops, nail bars and convenience stores. Visits to premises in the east of the county and Swale resulted in the seizure of illegal tobacco and drug paraphernalia, and closure orders are now being sought in relation to some premises for repeated immigration offences and possession of illicit items.
Seizures and detentions
During the campaign officers detained suspects and recovered a range of items during stops and searches, including:
- Class B drugs – cannabis was seized following a vehicle stop on 23 September.
- Evidence linked to burglary – a stop in Dartford led to the recovery of a crowbar, an axe and gloves and the detention of five Romanian men.
- Cocaine-related enforcement – a Polish man was arrested on the M20 after officers recovered evidence allegedly linked to 18 cocaine deals, plus cash and mobile phones.
- Illicit tobacco – two suspicious vehicles stopped near an industrial estate at Aylesford yielded imported tobacco with an estimated value of around £5,000 together with about £2,000 in cash.
- One driver was arrested on suspicion of drug offences and dangerous driving after attempting to evade patrols on 23 September; his moped was also seized.
“This enforcement over two weeks has shown the value of targeted stop checks of vehicles and multi-agency inspections of certain high street businesses…”
The operation combined criminal enforcement with immigration and regulatory checks. Agencies involved included Immigration Enforcement, Trading Standards and local authority teams, reflecting a coordinated approach to both criminality and exploitation linked to organised immigration crime.
Operational context and consequences
The activity in Kent forms part of a wider drive aimed at identifying and dismantling organised networks that move people, cash and illicit goods across borders. Officers said the work sought not only to make arrests but also to target the infrastructure that sustains offending – from vehicles used for smuggling to businesses that can be exploited for illegal trade or repeated immigration breaches.
Where inspectors found illicit tobacco and repeated immigration offending at commercial premises, police and partner agencies are now pursuing legal measures including closure orders. Those actions are designed to remove sites of criminality from the high street and to reduce opportunities for gangs to profit from illegal trade and exploitation.
While the initial focus of the operation was on detecting cross‑border offences and intercepting suspects at key transit points such as the Dartford Crossing and the M20, officers also undertook city and town centre visits to disrupt local supply chains and gather intelligence on organised networks.
| Metric | Result |
|---|---|
| Arrests | 22 |
| Operation dates | 21 Sept–7 Oct |
| Notable seizures | Class B drugs, cash, mobile phones, illicit tobacco (~£5,000) and tools linked to burglary |
Kent Police said the enforcement demonstrated the effectiveness of targeted stop checks and multi‑agency inspections in disrupting those who transport people, money and illegal goods. Investigations remain ongoing and those arrested will be subject to further enquiries as forces continue to pursue offenders and the networks that facilitate this type of crime.
