Afghan ARRESTED over TikTok account 'advertising illegal border crossings' to Europe

Published 4 November 2026, 10:37

• The National Crime Agency probe uses a new law, in force since February, that makes advertising illegal crossings a crime.
• Officers seized his mobile phone during the arrest in Brent, north-west London, before he was bailed.
• Martin Matthews, the senior investigator, described organised immigration crime as 'a top priority' for the agency to address.

A man has been arrested in connection with a National Crime Agency probe targeting a TikTok account that was being used to promote illegal border crossings from the UK into Europe.

The Afghan national, 29, was detained at an address in Brent, north-west London, on 3 November.

Officers seized his mobile phone during the arrest.

He was subsequently bailed pending further enquiries, according to the NCA.

The TikTok account at the centre of the investigation had been used to advertise illegal crossings from the UK to five European countries: France, Spain, Portugal, Italy, and Germany.

The arrest was made under Section 17 of the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Act 2025 — a law that came into force in February 2026 and makes advertising illegal border crossings a criminal offence.

The legislation is relatively new, and this case represents its use against the promotion of smuggling routes on social media platforms.

NCA Senior Investigating Officer Martin Matthews said that tackling organised immigration crime remains "a top priority for the National Crime Agency, and we are doing all we can to disrupt and dismantle those networks involved."

Matthews added that the agency's efforts extend specifically to social media, saying that its work includes "targeting the use of online platforms to advertise suspected illegal crossings."

The case underlines a growing focus by law enforcement on the role that platforms such as TikTok play in facilitating people-smuggling networks, which use social media to reach potential customers openly and at scale, according to the NCA's account of the investigation.