Five London cab drivers have appeared in court on charges of human smuggling.
The accusations stem from a National Crime Agency (NCA) investigation, codenamed Operation Symbolry, against a London-based group suspected of employing vehicles to smuggle migrants into and out of the United Kingdom.
Five men between the ages of 40 and 52, all of whom resided in East London, appeared before the Barkingside Magistrates Court.
Alauddin Ahmad, 49, of Shadwell, east London, is accused with five charges of unlawful immigration facilitation conspiracy.
Five men between the ages of 40 and 52, all of whom reside in east London, appeared before Barkingside Magistrates Court (pictured)
Ahknu Hussain, 48, of Spitalfields, east London, is accused with four counts of unlawful immigration facilitation conspiracy.
East London residents Amran Hussain, 40, Fozol Miah, 41, and Kaysor Miah, 52, are each charged with one count of conspiring to facilitate illegal immigration.
All of them were released on bond to appear in court later this month.
The cab drivers are suspected of transporting migrants to and from rendezvous spots with HGVs used to smuggle them across the English Channel. The NCA subsequently interdicted a number of the trucks.