A series of police raids targeting people smugglers who bring migrants to the UK in small boats have been carried out in Germany.
Hundreds of officers took part in dawn raids in a number of cities in the west of the country on Wednesday.
UK authorities are understood to be supporting the action, but all of the operational activity is taking place in Germany, and the investigation is being led by France.
The action is targeting gangs who take migrants from the Middle East and North Africa to France, before embarking on deadly Channel crossings to the UK in flimsy inflatable boats.
They are often dangerously overcrowded and capsize, and the migrants are left to drown in the freezing water.
More than 500 officers were involved in the raids on Wednesday.
Home Office figures show that more than 20,000 migrants have crossed the Channel in small boats since the Labour government came to power in July.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article