Hundreds detained in the North in crackdown on people smugglers

An Iranian man was stopped on Tuesday by two immigration enforcement officials as he approached the boarding card turnstiles at Belfast airport. File photo

Hundreds of people have been detained in the North trying to get into Britain by crossing the border from the Republic of Ireland in an operation aimed at cracking down on people smugglers.

Criminal gangs are charging up to €8,000 for the illegal travel package they present as a safer route to crossing the Channel on small boats, say immigration officials.