Gang leaders and small boat suppliers are among the first 25 targets to have their UK assets frozen in an effort to combat migrants crossing the Channel. The suspected criminals are also banned from travelling to the UK, after they were the first to be hit by a wave of new sanctions targeting people-smuggling.

The Foreign Office is set to impose the first wave of sanctions on people trafficking gangs and their enablers, such as financiers, fake passport suppliers and corrupt police officers

The U.S. Treasury sanctioned six leaders and affiliates of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua, including the head of the group, known by the alias "Niño Guerrero."