UK & Italy to use Mafia-busting tactics in people smuggling crackdown

BRITAIN and Italy are launching a crack team using Mafia-busting tactics to seize cash from people smuggling gangs.

A new force will start chasing down the dirty money of international criminals from January next year.

Top cops will deploy a “follow the money” approach to wreak havoc on the smugglers’ finances.

The two countries will share intelligence, carry out joint operations, freeze criminal bank accounts and drive more prosecutions of smugglers.

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said: “We’ve been clear that we will crack down on the international people smuggling gangs who are making millions from facilitating dangerous small boat crossings and putting thousands of lives at risks.   

“Italy is a world-leader in taking down the highest harm criminals and disrupting its own mafia-style gangs, making them a strong partner for us to work with.   

“Our new joint taskforce with our Italian counterparts sends a clear message to the criminal people smuggling gangs: We are coming for your money.”

It comes after Keir Starmer lavished praise on hard-line Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni for her immigration clampdown.

The squad will also investigate informal banking systems like hawala which can be used by gangs to anonymously transfer and launder dodgy cash.  

A plan is also underway to toughen up laws domestically and internationally so police can more easily seize profits made by criminal gangs.

And they hope to work with banks to ensure criminal gangs cannot launder their dodgy money through the UK’s financial system.       

Small boat arrivals hit a winter record on Thursday when 609 migrants made the crossing on a single day.