A MAN from Newport was among four people arrested on Friday, November 9, as part of an investigation into suspected people-smuggling.

The 42-year-old man was arrested at an address in Helford Square in Bettws.

The four men are believed to be part of an organised criminal network that transported individuals, predominantly from Albania and Turkey, across Europe and into the UK.

The smuggling attempts often involved migrants being concealed in camper vans and caravans.

Two of the other men were arrested in Bristol, and one in London.

All four were interviewed and have been released under investigation.

Around £64,000 in cash and jewellery worth around £8,000 was found during the operation on Friday and seized under the Proceeds of Crime Act.

The operation was led by officers from Immigration Enforcement's Criminal and Financial Investigation (CFI) department.

CFI assistant director Dave Fairclough said: "We continue to move forward with what is a complex investigation into an organised network suspected of overseeing attempts to evade the UK’s immigration controls.

“Friday’s operation saw tremendous co-operation with several law enforcement partners and I was, as always, impressed by the expertise and dedication of all those involved.

“Our enquiries will continue with the evidence seized on Friday.”

The latest arrests follow an operation on November 16, 2017, when a man and a woman were arrested at an address in Commercial Street, Newport, and a 27-year-old man was arrested at an address in Elcott Avenue, Peckham, London – all on suspicion of conspiracy to facilitate a breach of immigration law. They were released under investigation.

Anyone with information about suspected immigration abuse can contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 anonymously or visit http://www.crimestoppers-uk.org.