Organised immigration crime targeted in Kent

Kent Police has been cracking down on organised immigration crime with focused enforcement over a fortnight leading to the arrest of 22 suspects.

Between 21 September and 7 October 2026, officers from the force's tactical operations targeted rail and road networks to disrupt and deter gangs that seek to avoid detection by moving people, money and illegal goods across national and regional borders.

Simultaneously, officers from local community safety units visited multiple high street businesses to ensure owners were complying with the law and to identify premises where criminal activity was taking place.

Vehicles stopped 

In a joint operation with Metropolitan and Essex Police colleagues at the Dartford Crossing, scores of vehicles were stopped travelling into and out of the county. On 23 September, six men were arrested on suspicion of drug dealing after a vehicle that had travelled from abroad was stopped and cannabis along with cash was seized.

Several days later, five Romanian men were detained in connection with a burglary after their car was stopped in Dartford and items including a crowbar, axe and gloves were recovered.

Further stops led to a man being detained who was wanted on a European Arrest Warrant for large-scale smuggling offences in Romania. A Polish man was also arrested on the M20 after 18 cocaine deals, cash and mobile phones were seized.

Town centre enforcement

In town centres, businesses including vape shops, nail bars and convenience stores were inspected as part of the operation. Officers were supported by partner agencies including Immigration Enforcement, Trading Standards and local authority teams.

Visits to several shops in east Kent and Swale led to the seizure of illegal tobacco and drug paraphernalia. Closure orders are now being sought against some of the premises in relation to both possession of illicit items and repeated immigration offences.

Officers in Tonbridge and Tunbridge Wells completed proactive checks on fast-food delivery drivers with one rider seeking to make off from patrols on 23 September. The man was arrested for drug offences and dangerous driving, and his moped was also seized.

Two suspicious vehicles were also stopped on an industrial estate near Aylesford that led to the recovery of illicit imported tobacco worth around £5,000 along with £2,000 in cash.

Immigration offences

Several men and women were detained for immigration offences across the county. A suspect in Maidstone was found to be working as a delivery driver in contravention of his visa and the business owner who employed him is now under investigation by immigration enforcement officers.

Detective Chief Inspector Zoe Wilczek said:

'Kent Police is determined that organised crime groups seeking to use the county's travel networks undetected, or establish themselves in our town centre businesses, fear the distinct possibility of blue lights appearing in the rear-view mirror or an early morning knock on their front door.
‘This enforcement over two weeks has shown the value of targeted stop checks of vehicles and multi-agency inspections of certain high street businesses. It is through this robust action that criminals will be deterred or detained, and exploited vulnerable victims safeguarded from harm.’