Suspected people smuggler arrested at Manchester Airport has been extradited to France

A suspected people smuggler arrested at Manchester Airport has been extradited to France. Kaiwan Poore, 37, is alleged to have used small boats to sneak desperate asylum seekers across the Channel.

He was arrested along with around 40 others in raids across Europe in which dozens of boats and engines were seized, along with around 900 life jackets. Authorities believe all were destined to be used to stage dangerous Channel crossings.

Poore, an Iranian-born UK national, was apprehended by police at Manchester Airport earlier this month before he could board a flight to Turkey. French prosecutors accuse Poore of being part of an organised crime gang involved in people smuggling.

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Following his extradition he was handed over to French authorities and will be taken into custody by prosecuting authorities in Lille to face trial. Jacque Beer, National Crime Agency deputy director of investigations, said: "The arrests were crucial to a major international investigation focusing on one of the most prolific crime groups thought to be involved in small boat crossings.

"Where we find these gangs have a UK footprint we are determined to use every tool we have to track them down and bring them to justice. People smugglers risk lives by putting people into these flimsy boats – this is why tackling them remains a priority for the NCA and our European partners."

The investigation involved the NCA as well as law enforcement in Belgium, Germany, France and the Netherlands, as well as Europol and Eurojust.

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