Reform UK has announced plans to intensify efforts against corrupt officials allegedly assisting migrant smuggling networks, following claims by an Afghan smuggler that his operation receives tip-offs from government insiders. The smuggler, Haji Ajmal, who described his network as spanning across Europe, asserted that certain individuals within the UK take bribes to inform the gang about upcoming security measures, particularly at border checkpoints in Dover.
Zia Yusuf, Reform UK's spokesman on home affairs, characterized these allegations as deeply concerning but consistent with what he described as broader failings by mainstream political parties to address illegal migration effectively. Yusuf accused both the Conservative and Labour parties of enabling what he termed an "invasion" of Britain and pledged that a Reform government would swiftly respond to the situation.
Under a potential Reform UK administration, intelligence and law enforcement agencies would be mandated to conduct urgent and comprehensive investigations into claims of official corruption linked to migrant smuggling. Yusuf emphasized that individuals found to be complicit in aiding smuggling rings would face prosecution under the Immigration Act 1971 and the Bribery Act 2010.
Additionally, Reform UK leader Nigel Farage has proposed the establishment of a new "UK Deportation Command" should his party come to power. This unit would leverage data sharing across multiple government departments and agencies—including banks, the Home Office, HM Revenue and Customs, the police, the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency, and the National Health Service—to identify and remove illegal migrants from the country.
The party’s announcements come amid growing public and political concern about the scale and sophistication of migrant smuggling operations exploiting perceived weaknesses in Britain’s border controls. Reform UK asserts that coordinated government action, combined with stricter surveillance and data integration, is necessary to curb the problem and restore control over immigration enforcement.