Suspected members of an international organised crime group responsible for importing in excess of 50 tonnes of drugs worth billions of pounds into the UK from the Netherlands have been arrested, as part of a National Crime Agency investigation. Thirteen men, aged between 24 and 59, were apprehended during dawn raids today, Tuesday 8… Read more »
Albanian group accused of charging migrants 15,000 euros to reach the UK in lorries
Two men have been arrested by the National Crime Agency in London as part of an investigation into an Albanian organised crime group suspected of attempting to smuggle people into the UK in the backs of lorries. The investigation, led by the Belgian Federal Police, saw another 12 people arrested… Read more »
Two year ban for operator previously warned “fate is firmly in your own hands”
Firm’s claim that it was ‘getting there’ isn’t good enough, says Deputy Traffic Commissioner. He was speaking about a recent case involving a wheel loss. The incident had posed a real and serious risk of death or injury to road users, including the operator. A DVSA inspection found the business… Read more »
Licence lending spells end of vehicle operations for two businesses
Agreement between existing operator and licence applicant revealed payments for borrowed vehicle disc. Pay close attention to your licence discs and you’ll see there’s a clear statement on the back of each one. It says ‘not transferrable’. This means only you have the right to operate under your O licence…. Read more »
DVSA cracks down on dangerous abnormal loads
Specialist operators in the heavy haulage industry are being told to follow the law or face prosecution DVSA has warned (13 September 2019). The warning follows DVSA successfully prosecuting unscrupulous and in some cases reckless heavy haulage operators for using Special Type General Order (STGO) vehicles overloaded well beyond their design weight and… Read more »
Six arrests and boat seized in investigation into cross-Channel people smuggling
Six people have been arrested in Kent and London as part of a National Crime Agency investigation into a suspected organised crime group conspiring to smuggle migrants across the Channel in lorries and small boats. The six, all British men aged between 43 and 59, were arrested between Wednesday 11… Read more »
Corrupt dock worker helped move cocaine shipments through Tilbury port
Michael Fowler, 60, from Stanford-Le-Hope, Essex, was arrested by National Crime Agency officers following an investigation into a number of drug importations which went through the port between January and July 2015. Fowler pleaded guilty on the third day of his trial and was sentenced yesterday (Wednesday) at Isleworth Crown… Read more »
Suttons working with Border Force against smuggling
North West-based logistics specialists Suttons International is working with Border Force, assisting its officers in the fight against smuggling. Suttons provided Border Force, a law enforcement agency within the Home Office, with a tank container designed specifically to help train officers in the detection and prevention of illicit goods entering… Read more »
3 year ban for firm’s former TM who oversaw maintenance by text message
The transport manager During the hearing, the company’s former transport manager explained that he ran a transport and consultancy business, acting as TM on new licences while operators get their own CPC qualification. He was listed as a TM for three operators in total. The issues DVSA traffic examiner investigations… Read more »
Drug smuggling hauliers ordered to pay back more than £312,000
Two men from Liverpool who used their haulage firm as a front for heroin trafficking have been told to pay back £312,232.37 in criminal profits. Kevin Noble, 61, and Kevin Aitchison, 45, both from Liverpool, were jailed for 15 and eight years respectively in April 2018 following a National Crime… Read more »
