A series of arrests have been made after an investigation into migrant smuggling across the English Channel.

The operation was launched by the National Crime Agency (NCA) after suspicious activity involving an inflatable boat in Ramsgate last year.

It was suspected the boat had or was about to be used for to transport illegal migrants from either France or Belgium.

Four men were arrested on Tuesday, a 65 and 49-year-old from Britain, a British citizen from Kuwait, 42, and an Egyptian man aged 33.

The arrests followed a series of raids in Birmingham, Blackpool and Wiltshire.

Cash, mobile phones and computers were seized and, after two days of interviews, the suspects were bailed until September.

NCA branch manager Peter Smith said: “The arrests are the latest stage of a complex investigation into the activities of an alleged criminal network involved in moving migrants across the English Channel using small boats.

“Our inquiries will continue and we are now analysing evidence we have recovered as part of this phase of work.”