Police in Northern Ireland have detained hundreds of people in an operation targeting people-smuggling gangs.

The detention occurred as part of Operation Comby, which sees the UK Home Office work with police and the Gardaí to target gangs who may be using the Common Travel Area as a way to smuggle people into Britain.

The UK's Border Security Minister Angela Eagle claims these gangs are charging "those desperate to escape hardship" fees of up to €8,000 to enter Great Britain through the CTA.

The Guardian journalist Lisa O’Carroll told The Pat Kenny Show that Operation Comby is an attempt by the UK Home Office to "make people-smugglers aware that they are being watched".

Ms O'Carroll said however that it is unlikely that Operation Comby will led to any policy change regarding the Common Travel Area.

"Ireland is committed to having an invisible border [with Northern Ireland]," she said.

"But in other instances [Operations similar to Comby] did lead to a policy change."

Ports

Ms O'Carroll said authorities at airports and ports are looking for "adverse behaviour" in travellers.

Earlier this week, she said police stopped an Iranian man who was using a counterfeit Ukrainian passport to enter Great Britain through the Common Travel Area with Ireland.

Immigration officers told Ms O'Carroll that by stopping "suspicious" travellers at airports and ports, they hope to be able to find people-smuggling gangs.

She said the immigration officers she talked to this week claimed that racial profiling was not part of the operation.

Danger

Ms O'Carroll said the "Irish backdoor" is seen as a less dangerous way to enter the UK compared with Channel crossings or through lorries.

"These people who are trying to get into the UK and Ireland are coming because they're desperate and they want a better life," she said.

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Feature image shows border control at Heathrow Airport, Alamy.