Four men thought to be part of a people smuggling gang have been arrested after a group of people were brought to Margate in a dinghy from Belgium.

Two Albanian nationals, Arsen Feci and Klodian Shenaj, and Irish man Desmond Rice - all in their 40s - were arrested yesterday morning, and have now been charged by National Crime Agency officers.

They are alleged to have been involved in acquiring a rigid hulled inflatable boat and using it to travel to Belgium to collect migrants, before landing at Margate.

51-year-old Banet Tershana from Hove was also arrested and charged for his suspected role in assisting unlawful immigration.

The men are all thought to be part of a gang organising a series of people smuggling runs to the UK from Europe, including a number of crossings last year.

The suspects appeared before magistrates in Nottingham today

National Crime Agency branch commander Colin Williams said: "These arrests follow an extensive investigation into individuals who we believe were involved in a number of migrant crossings from Belgium to the Kent coast in 2022.

"Tackling people smuggling continues to be a priority for us as we target and disrupt organised crime groups at every step of the route."