Two suspected people smugglers arrested after rescue

Two suspected people smugglers have been arrested after being rescued off the coast of Dover.

A Mayday call was made from a motor cruiser that was ‘lost and in distress’ on Sunday morning.

At 8:11am on 19 June, RNLI Dover were tasked by UK Coastguard to assist the 15ft vessel, which had two people on board.

A Dover RNLI Lifeboat Station spokesman said: ‘As the charity that saves lives at sea, the RNLI will always help those in trouble in the water – no matter who they are or where they come from.’

A Home Office spokesman said: ‘The UK Coastguard received a mayday call from a motor cruiser which was lost and in distress off the Kent coast on Sunday, 19 June.

‘A Border Force cutter attended and officers checked the validity of the crew’s (two men) documents. The pair were then passed to Immigration Enforcement officers who arrested them on suspicion of conspiring to assist illegal entry into the UK. The two have now been bailed while enquiries are continuing.

‘It would not be appropriate to comment further while investigations are ongoing.’