People-smugglers first to be hit by boat sanctions

THE first wave of sanctions aimed at key figures in people smuggling gangs have come into force in a bid to hit those involved in assisting illegal immigration.

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They target 25 individuals and entities including a small boat supplier in Asia and gang leaders based in the Balkans and North Africa.

They also hit "middlemen" putting cash through the Hawala legal money transfer system in the Middle East, used in payments linked to Channel crossings.

Albanian Bledar Lala, leader of the Belgian operations of an organised smuggling group, and a company in China that advertised small boats for people smuggling on an online marketplace are among those sanctioned.

A former police translator, Alen Basil, who went on to lead a smuggling network in Serbia, aided by corrupt policemen, is also on the list.