Seven immigration arrests after yacht intercepted

The yacht was escorted to Gosport Marina by a Border Force vessel

Seven people have been arrested after a yacht carrying suspected migrants was intercepted in the English Channel.

The boat, which came from northern France, was found by a Border Force cutter off the Isle of Wight on Sunday afternoon, the National Crime Agency (NCA) said.

Its crew, two Ukrainian men aged 43 and 37, were arrested on suspicion of facilitating illegal immigration.

Five passengers - four Albanians and a Vietnamese national - were also detained under immigration laws.

Senior Investigating Officer Julian Harriman said: "This operation was part of an ongoing NCA investigation led jointly with French judicial authorities and Gendarmerie Nationale.

"Tackling people smuggling gangs remains a priority for both France and the United Kingdom."

The seven suspects remain in custody. The boat was taken to Gosport Marina.