Police 'break people-smuggling ring'

Staff are suspected of helping asylum seekers board planes

Immigration officials believe they have smashed a people-smuggling ring at Heathrow airport following eight arrests.

The alleged gang is suspected of helping asylum seekers gain illegal entry to the US from the UK by getting them through security and onto planes unhindered.

Officers from the newly formed Immigration Crime Team (ICT), part of the National Crime Squad, made the arrests at the London airport after a year-long surveillance operation.

Four of those arrested worked at Terminal Three, a man and woman for Virgin Atlantic Airways, and two men for an airport security company, a spokeswoman said.

Unusual pattern

The other four men, arrested as part of Operation Groundmass, are suspected of helping to provide false documents.

Both Virgin and the security firm worked closely with the ICT officers after it became clear an unusual number of attempts to enter the US were being made on Virgin services.

The group is suspected of providing asylum seekers with boarding cards at the airport, helping them pass through security and onto the plane.

The eight arrested, who are all from west London or Slough, were being questioned at a police station in the capital, the spokeswoman added.

Enhanced security

Acting Detective Inspector Alan Fitzgerald, of ICT, said: "Operation Groundmass began just over a year ago following an investigation into a security company used by some airlines at Heathrow Airport.

"During this investigation we have worked closely with Virgin Atlantic and the security group who have both provided a great deal of support to help uncover these corrupt activities."

Virgin said it will now pass on information gleaned from the operation to other airlines to help enhance security procedures.

In a separate case last month, three Heathrow security staff were jailed for taking money to let unauthorised passengers onto flights.