Home Office cops smashed down doors across the country yesterday amid an 'arms race' against people smugglers.

Immigration officials launched dawn raids in a coordinated blitz across England as part of a nationwide crackdown on a gang suspected of ferrying migrants into Britain by air, land and sea.

Four people were arrested as officers kicked down doors at addresses in Southampton, Huddersfield, Middlesbrough and Stockport.

The gang is believed to have smuggled up to 50 illegal migrants via commercial flights, concealed in cars and on ferries in operations spanning across Europe. For

They are also suspected of forging bogus passports, national identity cards and blank visas at a cost of £1,000 each.

Immigration officials launched dawn raids in a coordinated blitz across England

Criminal and financial investigator Paul Harvey (right) is seen breaking in to a property in Southampton

Four people were arrested as officers kicked down doors at addresses in Southampton, Huddersfield, Middlesbrough and Stockport

Home Office criminal and financial investigator Paul Harvey, who helped coordinate the operation said officials were in an 'arms race' with organised crime gangs.

Asked if it was frustrating that gangs are constantly changing their tactics, Mr Harvey said: 'Absolutely, It's basically an arms race as fast as we can go and detect these people.

'They will move on to the next addresses as part of being an organised crime group. It is reasonable to expect that they will move around different areas.

'Obviously, organised immigration crime is a UK wide problem so these people are spreading across the country and that's why this morning we've got officers working nationally to go and deal with a specific organised crime.'

'They [the gang] were quite sophisticated, they used different methods. It's not a not a normal boat smuggling operation. These people use sophisticated methods.'

In Southampton, officers struck at dawn, using a crowbar and a battering ram to smash down a door and later arresting one person.

It comes as more than 6,000 people have arrived on small boats so far this year aas MPs are set to finally approve Rwanda deportation flights today.

Minister for Countering Illegal Migration, Michael Tomlinson, said: 'We're working day and night to dismantle the criminal gangs who are trying to turn a profit by abusing our borders.

In Southampton, officers struck at dawn, using a crowbar and a battering ram to smash down a door and later arresting one person

Home Office criminal and financial investigator Paul Harvey (pictured), who helped coordinate the operation said officials were in an 'arms race' with organised crime gangs

Home Office Criminal and Financial Investigator, Paul Harvey, said: 'This has been a large and well-planned operation executed across the entire country'

Pictured: A Southampton property that was raided by police. Addresses in Huddersfield, Middlesbrough and Stockport were also targeted

'These arrests make clear if you are involved in this kind of criminality, you can expect our teams to find you and bring you to justice – wherever you are in the UK.'

More than 10,500 enforcement visits took place in the first nine months of 2023 - up 53 per cent compared to the same period in 2022. 

In 2023 alone, Home Office Immigration Enforcement secured the convictions of 141 people smugglers, including 80 people for piloting small boats.

Home Office Criminal and Financial Investigator, Paul Harvey, said: 'This has been a large and well-planned operation executed across the entire country. 

'We are working tirelessly to disrupt and dismantle the networks of criminals helping migrants to enter the UK illegally.

'I'm grateful to my team for their commitment and determination in this investigation. We will now work hard to ensure these suspects are put behind bars.'