Britain’s FBI to be handed an extra £25million to help catch migrant smugglers
RISHI Sunak will give the National Crime Agency an extra £25million to catch migrant smugglers.
The PM will pledge the funding today on a visit to Vienna where he will also agree a migration pact with his Austrian counterpart.
In a boost for his Rwanda plan, Mr Sunak and Chancellor Karl Nehammer will stress the importance of using third countries to halt the flow of people.
The NCA funding will help to supply operatives with new kit to disrupt crime gangs organising the illegal Channel crossings.
It will also boost intelligence gathering to provide leads from multiple data sources.
And the cash will blunt Labour claims that ministers are not doing enough to stop the gangs.
Last week, Austria joined 14 other EU nations in hailing the potential of third country processing to deter illegal migrants.
Mr Sunak said yesterday: “We are leading the charge with partners across the continent to meet the challenges caused by intolerable levels of illegal migration.
“Just last week, 15 EU countries called for new solutions to address this growing issue.
“Our disruption of the cruel trade of criminal gangs, together with our Rwanda scheme, are part of a deterrent to stop illegal migration once and for all.”
Foreign Secretary Lord Cameron will hold talks with Albanian officials as part of the Government’s diplomatic blitz.
It comes with Channel crossings today expected to pass the 10,000 mark for the year