A former British soldier turned smuggler has revealed how he trafficked dozens of migrants into the UK using yachts and private marinas — exploiting gaps in coastal security that still exist today.

The man, who we’ll call Nick, was convicted in 2019 for his role in smuggling Vietnamese and Albanian migrants into the country. But in a BBC interview, he claims the routes and methods he used are still being employed — and barely monitored.

“There’s nothing stopping it. I could do it again tomorrow,” Nick said.

Easy In, Easy Out

Nick described how he sailed migrants across the English Channel under cover of night, docking at quiet, low-security marinas in towns like Ramsgate. Many of these ports, he said, had “no more security than a caravan site.”

Unlike migrants crossing in small boats to claim asylum, Nick’s passengers — mostly Vietnamese — didn’t want to be found. Many planned to disappear into the black market economy, often ending up in illegal cannabis farms.

“Most of them just wanted to vanish,” Nick explained. “They didn’t want to go through asylum. They just wanted to work, illegally.”

From Soldier to Smuggler

Nick’s journey into smuggling began in 2009. Struggling after the 2008 financial crash and expecting a child, he was approached by an Albanian acquaintance, Matt, with a tempting offer: £3,500 per person smuggled.

At first, Nick smuggled people in his car via ferry. Later, he began working on more elaborate operations — helping migrants stow away on lorries mid-journey, even using knives to cut their way into truck trailers while still onboard the ferry.

According to Nick, “It was easy. I wouldn’t have been caught if not for a friend who acted nervously.”

He was eventually arrested in France and served five months in prison. But after his release, Nick and Matt regrouped and shifted tactics — using yachts to evade detection.

The Marina Loophole

One of Nick’s major smuggling hubs was Ramsgate Marina in Kent. A lifelong sailor, Nick knew the area well and even held a membership there, making him appear trustworthy.

“It was the perfect setup. No one questioned me. Even Border Force boats were docked there — so I always knew if they were around.”

Private marinas became the weak link in UK border security, Nick claimed — a sentiment echoed by two anonymous harbourmasters interviewed by the BBC.

“In peak season, with the marina buzzing, you could hide just about anything,” one said.

Nick was eventually caught in 2018, when police — who had been surveilling him for months — intercepted him arriving with four Vietnamese men onboard. He was sentenced to eight years for conspiracy to facilitate illegal immigration.

The woman who paid him, a Vietnamese national known as Lin, received the same sentence. Matt pleaded guilty and got five years and four months.

A Broken System?

Despite his conviction, Nick says very little has changed. He claims he knows people who still use the same routes — exploiting marina access, night crossings, and lax security measures.

“I was just the guy who got caught. There are others doing the same thing today.”

Border Force Director of Maritime, Charlie Eastaugh, acknowledged that marinas are a vulnerability. While Border Force patrols 24/7 and responds to tips, security at private marinas falls under the control of individual operators — creating inconsistent enforcement.

“We can’t have a fixed presence at all 11,000 miles of UK coastline,” Eastaugh said. “But we rely on intel from the maritime community to target our resources.”

Former Border Force chief Tony Smith admitted the agency is stretched thin — with most of its focus now directed at small boat crossings, which have hit record highs in 2025.

“I’d prefer to see broader surveillance across the coastline,” Smith said, adding that Nick’s story could provide critical intelligence.

Hidden in Plain Sight

Nick said he would sail from Kent under cover of darkness, time his crossings with tides and weather, and collect migrants from near Dunkirk. Once back in the UK, the migrants would remain hidden in his cabin until collected by gang members after dark.

He managed to run this operation for 18 months before being caught — and claims marinas like Ramsgate are still being used by smugglers.

“People are going to hate me for saying this,” he said. “But they need to know — it’s still happening.”

Nick, who was recently recalled to prison for breaching parole, says he regrets parts of his past — but not everything.

“I think I was always on a path to self-destruction,” he said.

As for Matt and Lin? Both are now out of prison and living in the UK.

Source: BBC – Yachts easy way to bring in migrants – ex-smuggler

The post Ex-Soldier Reveals How Yachts Are Used to Smuggle Migrants Into UK appeared first on Journos News - Breaking News, World News, Top Stories, Todays Headlines and Flash Reports.

CULIACÁN, MEXICO — In a dim bedroom tucked inside a quiet residential street, a man sits surrounded by weapons, radios, and whispers of violence. He’s a member of the Sinaloa Cartel — a group once run by Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán, now designated by the U.S. government as a foreign terrorist organization.

Speaking with him wasn’t easy. It took weeks of negotiation, verification, and reassurance that we weren’t law enforcement — not police, DEA, or CIA. He finally agreed to meet in a nondescript house in southern Culiacán, the cartel’s heartland. As we entered, we were told to cover our camera. Security was tight. A lookout scanned the street nervously, gripping a walkie-talkie as military vehicles rolled by outside.

The man before us wore a Joker baseball cap pulled low, a scarf over his face, sunglasses, and blue latex gloves to hide his tattoos. Leaning on his chair: an assault rifle. His operation, he said, is focused on one of the deadliest drugs devastating the United States — fentanyl.

“Of course, things are sad,” he admits. “But families have to eat.”

For nearly two decades, Mexican authorities have battled cartels with limited success. In the U.S., successive presidents have vowed to end the drug crisis. But under increased pressure from former President Donald Trump — who once declared cartels a threat to national security — and with violence on the rise, Mexico’s new leader Claudia Sheinbaum is shifting course.

Unlike her predecessor’s “hugs, not bullets” approach, Sheinbaum has taken aggressive action. More than 10,000 National Guard troops have been deployed to the northern border to stem the drug flow. In Sinaloa alone, hundreds of soldiers have joined the front lines.

In her first six months in office:

• 17,000 suspects were arrested for major crimes
• 140 tons of drugs were seized, including 1.5 tons of fentanyl and 2 million pills
  Meanwhile, U.S. Customs and Border Protection reported seizing over 24,000 pounds of fentanyl in one year. A dose as small as two milligrams — just a few grains of sand — can kill.

Though the Mexican government insists fentanyl isn’t produced domestically, cartel members tell a different story. The chemicals often come from China, and the labs — many disguised or mobile — are operating in secret across the countryside.

Flying low in a Blackhawk helicopter with Mexican troops, the challenge becomes clear. Sinaloa’s vast terrain — over 22,000 square miles — provides perfect cover for hidden drug labs.

Unlike fields of marijuana or poppies, synthetic drug labs can appear almost anywhere. It takes little more than household pots, plastic vats, small reactors, and tarps to conceal them from the air. In one recently raided meth lab, soldiers found reactors, vats of liquid meth, and signs of a recent camp: food, water, and even a pair of jeans left behind.

A sign posted at the entrance read: “To make a deal: Cell phone.” Soldiers suspect it was an offer of a bribe.

Brigadier General Porfirio Fuentes Vélez says corruption is a constant battle — but insists there’s been real progress.

“Criminals are producing less because the government is coordinating better across all levels,” he says.

Still, off the record, many acknowledge corruption runs deep. One former security chief who led a crackdown was later convicted in the U.S. for taking bribes from the Sinaloa cartel.

In Culiacán, the streets are tense. Shootouts are frequent. More than 1,200 people have died in the past year — double the toll from the previous year. Hundreds more are missing.

The violence isn’t just from the state — it’s internal. After two high-ranking cartel leaders were arrested in Texas — Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada and Joaquín Guzmán López, El Chapo’s son — a brutal rift formed within the cartel.

Officials believe Guzmán López betrayed Zambada, sparking an all-out war between their factions. Both men deny the charges. But the damage is done. The once-powerful cartel is now tearing itself apart — and the city with it.

At a cemetery in Culiacán, Rosalinda Cabanillas lets out a heartbreaking wail as she clings to her daughter’s white coffin. Vivian Karely Aispuro, just 26, disappeared for 17 days before her body was found.

“Thank you for the great adventure,” sobs her sister, Alma Aispuro, as mariachis play nearby.

The violence has shattered any sense of safety. Children are taught how to take cover from gunfire. Schools sit half-empty. At night, the city is quiet — not from peace, but fear. Bars close early. Paramedics dart through the streets on motorcycles, responding to endless emergency calls.

Alma says her sister had no ties to the cartel. But in today’s Culiacán, even that may not be enough.

“Before this war, there were codes,” Alma says. “Women and children were off-limits. Not anymore.”

She lives in fear — not just for herself, but for all women.

“The day we found my sister, five more women disappeared,” she says. “I’m afraid for my family. I’m afraid no one will help us. No one will listen.”

Despite the crackdowns, the Sinaloa cartel remains alive — bruised, but functioning. Small-scale labs, nimble operations, and constant surveillance help them evade capture.

Miguel Calderón, from the State Council on Public Security, believes U.S. demand is the root of the crisis.

“If it weren’t for the military, this would be two or three times worse,” he says. “But unless the U.S. curbs demand, the cartels will continue.”

Back in the makeshift lab, the soldiers continue their work under the blistering heat — breaking down reactors and cleaning up toxic waste. It’s a small win in a much larger war.

And as mothers bury their daughters, and cities learn to live in fear, the question remains: How do you dismantle a criminal empire that feeds on desperation, secrecy — and endless demand?

Source: CNN – Meeting with a member of one of the most powerful criminal networks in the world

The post Inside the Sinaloa Cartel: A Rare Interview With a Fentanyl Producer appeared first on Journos News - Breaking News, World News, Top Stories, Todays Headlines and Flash Reports.

More than 100 immigrants suspected of being in the U.S. illegally were detained early Sunday morning after a federal raid at an illegal after-hours nightclub in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The operation was carried out by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) as part of an ongoing crackdown on illegal activities in the area.

Footage shared by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) showed agents arriving at the scene and announcing their presence outside the building. In the video, agents can be heard ordering patrons to exit with their hands up. As the operation unfolded, videos captured dozens of individuals fleeing the nightclub through its front entrance after federal agents smashed a window. Later, the detained individuals were shown in handcuffs, standing on the sidewalk awaiting transportation.

The raid took place at a nightclub that had been under investigation for several months. Authorities suspect the establishment was involved in a range of illegal activities, including drug trafficking, prostitution, and violent crimes. DEA Special Agent Jonathan Pullen confirmed that cocaine and other drugs were seized during the operation.

“When the police arrived, most of the drugs hit the floor,” Pullen said at a news conference. Additionally, several firearms were confiscated from the scene. Over 300 law enforcement officers from multiple agencies participated in the raid, marking it as one of the largest operations in the area in recent months.

This raid is part of a broader, ongoing campaign of aggressive immigration enforcement under former President Donald Trump’s administration. Trump’s policies have sparked widespread debate, with efforts to curb immigration often pushing the boundaries of executive power. Throughout his presidency, Trump’s crackdown included the detention of more than 1,000 international students, some of whom had their legal status temporarily reinstated. These policies have drastically reduced immigration at the southern U.S. border.

In Colorado Springs, ICE officials took custody of more than 100 immigrants who were at the nightclub, which was packed with more than 200 people at the time of the raid. Among the detainees were at least a dozen active-duty military members who were either patrons of the nightclub or working as armed security.

The operation also led to the arrest of individuals with outstanding warrants, although Pullen did not specify how many or what charges they faced. He did not disclose the countries of origin for the detained immigrants.

Former President Trump shared a video of the raid on his social media platform, Truth Social, praising the operation. He referred to those detained as “drug dealers, murderers, and other violent criminals, of all shapes and sizes.”

Earlier this month, a federal judge in Colorado temporarily blocked the deportation of immigrants facing removal under Trump’s use of the Alien Enemies Act, a law from the 18th century. This ruling has delayed some deportations, but authorities continue their efforts to enforce immigration laws across the country.

The raid in Colorado Springs has sent a strong message to the community: authorities are committed to tackling illegal activities, especially those involving drugs and violence.

Source: AP News – More than 100 immigrants detained at an illegal after-hours nightclub in Colorado

The post Federal Raid on Illegal Colorado Nightclub Leads to Dozens of Arrests appeared first on Journos News - Breaking News, World News, Top Stories, Todays Headlines and Flash Reports.

Thousands of terrified, sick, and exhausted young men and women from around the world now find themselves imprisoned on the Myanmar border, caught between a deadly past and an uncertain future. After being freed from forced labor in scam compounds, their ordeal is far from over.

A Horrifying Rescue Effort

Last month, a high-profile operation led by authorities from Thailand, China, and Myanmar resulted in the release of over 7,000 people who had been trafficked and coerced into scamming innocent victims worldwide. These individuals, lured by promises of lucrative office jobs, were forced to trick unsuspecting people out of their life savings, primarily targeting Americans. But despite their release, these survivors have found themselves in a new nightmare: overcrowded, unsanitary detention facilities with no medical care, limited food, and no clear plan for repatriation.

One young man from India shared the grim conditions, saying that 800 detainees shared just 10 dirty toilets. Many are sick, feverish, and coughing. “If we die here with health issues, who is responsible for that?” he asked, a haunting question that echoes the helplessness of thousands trapped in a seemingly endless cycle of suffering.

A Growing Humanitarian Crisis

What was hailed as one of the largest rescues of forced laborers in modern history has turned into an escalating humanitarian disaster. The survivors—who come from at least 29 countries, including the Philippines, Kenya, and the Czech Republic—are now stuck in limbo, waiting for their home governments to act. Human rights advocates are raising alarms that this operation is just a small fraction of the true scale of the crisis. It’s estimated that as many as 300,000 people may still be working under similar forced conditions in scam operations across Southeast Asia, according to the United States Institute of Peace.

While some governments have begun efforts to repatriate their citizens, these attempts have been slow and insufficient. Thailand has been able to facilitate just 300 repatriations per day, and the pace of resettlement remains sluggish.

Conditions in the Detention Centers

The former scam workers are being held in makeshift detention centers, primarily in military camps controlled by Myanmar‘s Kayin Border Guard Force. Thousands are crammed into unsanitary conditions, sleeping on hard floors, and receiving inadequate food. These compounds are starkly reminiscent of the conditions the survivors endured in the scam centers.

Surgical masks are a common sight as detainees huddle together under the watchful eyes of armed guards. One man, speaking on the condition of anonymity, explained how they cling to the hope of eventual freedom. “It felt like a blessing that we came out of that trap, but the actual thing is that every person just wants to go back home.”

For many, it feels like an escape from one form of captivity only to be placed in another.

The Push for Repatriation

While some countries like China have taken action, sending chartered flights to pick up their citizens, other nations are still struggling to get their people back. Many detainees are trapped without the $600 airfare necessary to return home, leaving them in a precarious situation.

Authorities have blamed the slow pace of repatriation on logistical challenges. Thailand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has promised to expedite the process, but with limited capacity to manage the thousands of detainees, the situation remains dire. “We are aware that there are sick people, and that they need to be repatriated,” said Nikorndej Balankura, a spokesperson for the Thai government.

The Global Response

Despite efforts from small nonprofit organizations and limited assistance from international bodies like the United Nations, the crisis at the Thai-Myanmar border is overwhelming. With minimal funding and a lack of resources, aid groups are struggling to provide even basic necessities like food, shelter, and medical care.

“We’re looking at numbers in the thousands, and the ability to get them over to Thailand and process them is impossible for most governments,” said Amy Miller of Acts of Mercy International, a nonprofit assisting survivors at the Thai-Myanmar border. “It really requires a global response.”

At the same time, a reduction in U.S. foreign aid funding has only added to the strain. Organizations working to combat human trafficking, including the International Organization for Migration (IOM), have had to halt their efforts due to a lack of financial support.

The Dark Reality of Cyber Scams

Cyber scam operations, which flourished during the pandemic, have wreaked havoc on countless victims worldwide. The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) estimates that Asia alone lost between $18 billion and $37 billion in 2023 to online fraud, and despite the crackdown, these criminal networks continue to operate with little deterrence. Many of the armed groups that control the regions where these scams operate are also linked to human trafficking, further complicating efforts to dismantle these operations.

While the international community’s focus on rescuing the victims is essential, it’s equally important to address the root cause of the problem: the criminal groups that profit from these scams. These networks are well-funded, highly organized, and able to quickly adapt to pressure. In Myanmar, where the military and various militia groups hold sway, efforts to shut down scam compounds have been ineffective.

The Need for Global Action

Advocates warn that without a coordinated, multinational effort, these criminal enterprises will continue to thrive. As one Pakistani man, still trapped in a detention facility, put it, “The bosses are rich as hell, and they can buy anything they need to keep this going.”

Despite the obstacles, efforts to rescue and repatriate the victims continue. But it remains to be seen whether these initiatives will have a lasting impact on dismantling the networks that profit from human suffering.

In the end, the question that lingers in the minds of those still trapped on the border is, “Is anyone coming for us?” The world watches, but the answer remains uncertain.

Source

The post Trapped on the Border: The Unfinished Fight to Free Forced Laborers appeared first on Journos News - Breaking News, World News, Top Stories, Todays Headlines and Flash Reports.

Thailand has made a bold move to disrupt the billion-dollar online scam industry operating out of Myanmar by cutting electricity to several key locations on Wednesday. The operation targets scam compounds run by Chinese crime syndicates that have flourished in Myanmar’s lawless border regions. But will it be enough to halt the widespread exploitation of workers and cybercrime operations?

Electricity Cut, But Operations Continue

As of Wednesday afternoon, at least one of the scam centers was still operational, according to a local NGO in contact with workers inside. While the Thai government has cut power to five locations near the border, it remains unclear whether the action has disrupted operations across the region. The compounds, which house thousands of workers from various countries, have become notorious for forced labor, online fraud, and other illicit activities.

The power cut, which took place in areas like Myawaddy—a town along the Thai-Myanmar border—was broadcast live on national television. Thailand’s Interior Minister, Anutin Charnvirakul, stated that the decision to cut electricity wasn’t due to contract violations but because the power was being misused for “scams, drugs, and call centers.” The move has sparked both hope and skepticism.

Scam Compounds: Small Cities of Exploitation

These so-called scam factories operate like self-contained cities, with amenities such as restaurants, grocery stores, and even daycare centers for workers’ families. But at their core, these compounds are hubs for cybercrime. Workers are lured by promises of well-paying jobs but end up being trafficked and forced to carry out online fraud schemes, often under threat of violence. Many report physical abuse and long hours with little to no pay.

In Myawaddy alone, around 6,500 victims—including approximately 4,500 Chinese nationals—are estimated to be trapped in scam compounds, according to the Civil Society Network for Victim Assistance in Human Trafficking, a Thai NGO. These individuals are held against their will and forced to participate in online scams, including identity theft, phishing, and other fraudulent activities.

A Global Scourge: Chinese Syndicates and Myanmar’s Role

Many of these scam centers are linked to Chinese crime syndicates, which have taken advantage of Myanmar’s political instability and lawlessness, especially since the military coup in 2021. The country’s ongoing civil war has further weakened governance, enabling fraud operations to flourish with the tacit support of the military junta.

While these scams have been thriving for years, Thailand has come under increasing pressure to take action. High-profile incidents, like the abduction of Chinese actor Wang Xing—who was lured to Myanmar under the pretense of a movie casting—have brought renewed attention to the issue. After being rescued from a scam compound, Wang’s return to China sparked a wave of public concern, with many families now calling on the Chinese government to free their loved ones who remain trapped in these centers.

The Limits of Power Cuts: Will They Make a Difference?

While Thailand has previously cut electricity to Myanmar’s scam centers, there are concerns that this tactic alone will not put an end to the operations. These scam factories are often equipped with diesel-run generators and can rely on alternative power sources like Elon Musk’s Starlink, which provides internet access even in remote areas.

A local resident from Thailand’s Mae Sot, a town across the river from Myawaddy, expressed doubt that the power cuts would have a lasting impact. “Tonight you will see the lights on in Shwe Kokko,” he said, referring to one of the largest and most notorious scam compounds visible across the border.

International Pressure and Cooperation

The issue has garnered international attention, with China expressing its concern over the growing scam operations near the Thai-Myanmar border. China’s Foreign Ministry recently stated it was “highly concerned” about the situation, and Chinese authorities have been actively involved in efforts to shut down scam centers in Myanmar. Over the past few years, more than 53,000 Chinese nationals—both trafficked victims and suspects—have been repatriated from scam centers in northern Myanmar.

However, many of these scam compounds have simply relocated to the southern regions of Myanmar, including Myawaddy, where they continue to exploit workers and defraud victims worldwide.

The Bigger Picture: Myanmar’s Struggles Amid War and Lawlessness

Myanmar’s ongoing civil conflict has made the country a hotspot for cybercrime. Human trafficking, money laundering, and corruption have flourished, often with the complicity of the military junta. As the fighting continues, Myanmar’s border areas, such as Myawaddy, remain a haven for these criminal operations.

In recent months, there has been renewed pressure on Thailand, China, and Myanmar to cooperate more effectively in cracking down on these illegal activities. Thailand’s Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra is currently in Beijing for talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping, signaling that stronger efforts may be on the horizon to address these transnational crimes.

A Long Road Ahead

While Thailand’s electricity cuts are a significant step, they may not be enough to halt the scam industry’s operations in Myanmar. Experts believe that a broader, more coordinated effort between governments—particularly Thailand, Myanmar, and China—will be required to dismantle these criminal networks and provide justice for the thousands of victims caught in the web of online fraud and human trafficking.

As the region grapples with these challenges, the world watches to see whether these measures will disrupt the global scam industry—or if the criminals will simply find new ways to keep the lights on and continue their illegal activities.

Source

The post Thailand Cuts Power to Myanmar Scam Centers, But Will It Stop the Fraud? appeared first on Journos News - Breaking News, World News, Top Stories, Todays Headlines and Flash Reports.