'Gangmaster' suspect remanded

Victor Solomka was remanded in custody

A man arrested in raids investigating alleged illegal worker networks appeared before Thetford Magistrates in Norfolk on Saturday.

Victor Solomka, 43, of King's Lynn, Norfolk, was accused of conspiracy to facilitate entry into the UK of illegal immigrants.

Mr Solomka was remanded in custody to reappear at Norwich Crown Court on 5 April.

Two other men arrested on Thursday have been freed on police bail.

Forty arrests

Mr Solomka said nothing throughout the hour-long proceedings other than to confirm his name, age and address.

He was one of about 40 people arrested on Thursday in a series of co-ordinated dawn raids in Norfolk, Cambridgeshire, Aberdeen, Essex and London, following an eight-month investigation into the alleged employment of illegal immigrants by gangmasters.

Police said eight of those arrested were suspected of being involved in the organisation of an alleged illegal employment racket and the remaining 35 were thought to be labourers believed to have come from eastern Europe to work in fish processing plants in Scotland.