people smugglers' are arrested after two inflatable boats carrying FIFTEEN 'Iranian' migrants are stopped off the Kent coast

• One boat carrying eight migrants was stopped in the English Channel near Kent
• Separately seven people were stopped at Dover Western Docks by border police
• All 15 claimed they were Iranian nationals and are being dealt with by officials 
• Two others arrested on suspicion of facilitating the migrant's passage to UK 

Two people smugglers were arrested at the UK border last weekend after 15 illegal immigrants were caught trying to get into Britain.

Patrol boats were scrambled to an inflatable boat carrying 10 men in the English Channel off the Kent Coast on Saturday.

After they were rescued they were taken to Dover where two of them were arrested on suspicion of facilitating the immigrants' bid to get into the UK.

In a separate incident on Saturday, seven men were stopped at Dover's Western Docks after the police were alerted to some suspicious activity. 

All 15 men claimed to be Iranian nationals and were referred to the Home Office's immigration department.   

It is believed the first eight men arrived on an inflatable vessel which was found and seized by Border Force. It is not yet known if the two incidents are linked. 

A spokesman for the Home Office told MailOnline: 'After two incidents on Saturday, 3 November, Border Force referred a total of 15 men to Home Office immigration officials.

'The 15, who all presented themselves as Iranian, were interviewed and must now report regularly to the Home Office while their cases are progressed in line with the UK immigration rules.

'Two individuals arrested on suspicion of facilitation have been released under investigation. 

'Immigration Enforcement’s criminal investigation remains ongoing and it would therefore be inappropriate to comment further.'