British pilot charged after alleged illegal immigrants flown in from Belgium

Officers found four Albanians in a taxi heading from airfield in England

A British pilot has been charged with attempting to smuggle illegal immigrants into the country on his plane. Photo: National Crime Agency

A British pilot has been charged with attempting to fly illegal immigrants into the UK in his aircraft.

Richard Styles, 52, was detained during an operation led by the National Crime Agency (NCA) at Deenethorpe Airfield near Corby, in Northamptonshire.

He had just flown his twin-engined plane to the airfield from Belgium.

Police officers stopped a taxi which had left the airfield and arrested the driver and four Albanian citizens.

The Albanians, three men and a woman aged between 21 and 64, were detained under immigration powers.

Mr Styles has been charged with facilitating a breach of immigration law and the taxi driver, a 42-year-old man from Tooting in South London, has been bailed pending further enquiries.

“We know people smugglers use a range of methods to try to breach UK border controls and we remain alive to the threats," NCA regional head of investigations Jacque Beer said.

“Working with our law enforcement partners we are determined to do all we can to stop them.

“The aviation and local community can play a vital role in preventing border crime and whether you work in the aviation industry, are a keen pilot or live locally, you should report any unusual or suspicious activity at a UK airfield or airport immediately.”

The operation was supported by Border Force and Immigration Enforcement.

“These arrests demonstrate the excellent around-the-clock work Border Force do to search, find and stop anyone attempting to bring people illegally into the country," said Martin Hendy, deputy director of Border Force, a British government agency.

“Our investigations will continue into those suspected.”

Last year there were 36,792 illegal arrivals in the UK last year, with migrants in small boats making up 78 per cent.

Figures released in February showed the number of asylum claims made in Britain had climbed to its highest in about two decades, while the backlog of cases waiting to be determined continues to soar.

There were 48,540 asylum applications — relating to 56,495 people — in the UK in 2021, up 63 per cent on the previous year and the highest for a calendar year since 2003.