The first wave of sanctions targeting key figures in people-smuggling gangs has come into force as the Government intensifies its crackdown on illegal immigration to the UK.
The measures target 25 individuals and entities across the globe, including a small boat supplier in Asia and gang leaders operating from the Balkans and North Africa.
The sanctions also target "middlemen" who funnel cash through the Hawala legal money transfer system in the Middle East, which facilitates payments linked to Channel crossings.
Among those sanctioned are Albanian Bledar Lala, who leads the Belgian operations of an organised smuggling group, and a Chinese company that advertised small boats for people smuggling on an online marketplace.
Foreign Secretary David Lammy described the move as a "landmark moment in the Government's work to tackle organised immigration crime and reduce irregular migration to the UK".
"From Europe to Asia we are taking the fight to the people-smugglers who enable irregular migration, targeting them wherever they are in the world and making them pay for their actions," Lammy said.
"My message to the gangs who callously risk vulnerable lives for profit is this: we know who you are, and we will work with our partners around the world to hold you to account," he added.
The measures aim to disrupt the flow of cash to organised crime gangs by freezing bank accounts, property and other assets.
It will be illegal for UK businesses and banks to deal with anyone named on the list.
The move follows legislation being introduced under the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill to ramp up enforcement powers for police forces and partners to investigate and prosecute people smugglers.
(PA/London) Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.
