The UK government is hosting an international Border Security Summit focused on combating criminal networks involved in migrant smuggling.

Ministers and law enforcement representatives from 40 countries will convene in London to discuss international cooperation, migrant routes, financial crime, and online advertising that promotes dangerous journeys.

A key focus of the Summit will be tracking the financial networks of human traffickers globally, with attention on the use of informal money transfer systems like “hawala.”

Addressing the broader issue of organized crime that fuels immigration for profit, participants will consider new criminal offenses and expanded powers for police and law enforcement.

This initiative comes as the UK faces a record number of illegal migrants arriving via the English Channel, a situation linked to organized crime and the exploitation of vulnerable individuals. Last year over 8,000 advertisements were removed from social networks, before traffickers switched to encrypted channels, with hundreds of people arrested for facilitating travel.