Albanian found on yacht used to bring migrants into UK illegally had been 'wanted by UK police for four years'

An Albanian, alleged to have been among seven people found on a yacht suspected to be carrying illegal migrants, that was intercepted in the English Channel, had been wanted by police for four years, it emerged today.

The boat, which had travelled from northern France, was picked up off the coast of the Isle of Wight and escorted into Gosport Marina in Hampshire by a Border Force cutter on the afternoon of Sunday 20 July, as part of a National Crime Agency (NCA) led operation.

The crew of the vessel, Ukrainian nationals aged 43 and 37, were arrested on suspicion of facilitating illegal immigration.

Five passengers, four Albanian nationals and a Vietnamese national, were arrested for immigration offences.

Two of the men have now been charged over the alleged plot to smuggle migrants into the UK using the pleasure boat.

Ukrainian nationals Vladyslav Cherniavskyi, 37, and Oleksandr Yavtushenko, 43, will both appear before Portsmouth Magistrates today (22 July) charged with facilitating illegal immigration.

Four migrants, three Albanian males and a Vietnamese female, have now been handed over to the immigration authorities.

A fifth individual, Albanian national Pellumb Selimi, 29, (top image) has been detained after being further arrested for failing to appear at court in connection with drugs offences. He is due to appear before St Albans Crown Court.

NCA Senior Investigating Officer Julian Harriman said:

"This operation was part of an ongoing NCA investigation led jointly with French judicial authorities and Gendarmerie Nationale, which has been supported by Border Force. Those arrested remain in custody.

"Tackling people smuggling gangs remains a priority for both France and the United Kingdom and we are determined to do all we can to target, disrupt and dismantle the criminal networks involved."