Man arrested in Preston on suspicion of facilitating small boat crossings

A man has been arrested on suspicion of facilitating illegal immigration to the UK. The 38-year-old, who claims to be an Iraqi national, was detained in the early hours of Sunday in the Stefano Road area of Preston, Lancashire. The arrest was made as part of a National Crime Agency (NCA) investigation into an organised crime network believed to be organising cross-Channel small boat crossings. A phone and documents were also seized from the address, the agency confirmed.