Hundreds of “dangerous” life jackets confiscated for small boat crossings

According to the NCA, the vests did not meet British or European safety standards and would have failed in deep water.

Some of the estimated 600 life jackets confiscated were in children’s sizes.

The items were in a truck that was intercepted by the Dutch Royal Marechaussee in Zwolle, the Netherlands, on Monday.

The 23-year-old truck driver was arrested on suspicion of people smuggling and is being investigated by the Dutch authorities.

The cargo was first shipped to Italy and then transported to the Netherlands.

NCA investigators worked with European partners to seize the shipment with the assistance of the UK Border Agency.

Jacque Beer, NCA’s regional head of investigations, said: “Combating organised immigration crime remains a priority for the NCA and we seek to dismantle the criminal gangs involved in it in every way possible. This includes targeting their supplies of dangerous maritime equipment.”

“The seizure was the direct result of the NCA working closely with European partners to stop and seize this shipment.

“There is no doubt that this unsuitable equipment was acquired by criminal networks who wanted to use it for small boat crossings.

“These life jackets do not meet any safety standards, would have offered no protection at sea and would have been used solely to deceive those paying for the crossings into believing that they were safe when this was not the case.

“Some of them were in children’s sizes, which again shows the insensitivity of those involved.

“Tragically, we have seen only recently that they do not care at all about risking the lives of the people they transport.”