Eighteen people have been arrested in Greece as part of an international investigation into people smuggling.

Britain’s National Crime Agency (NCA) was involved in the operation, and those arrested – all men aged between 18 and 23 – were held after a series of raids in Crete on Friday.

The NCA said 112 people were rescued after being found in a cave and farm buildings close to the village of Tsoutsouros, in southern Crete, and officers recovered a firearm from the scene.

NCA investigators believe the suspects, including Syrian, Afghan, Pakistani, Egyptian and Greek nationals, are part of an organised crime group that has facilitated the smuggling of people seeking to leave Greece illegally and travel to northern Europe.

Those making journeys would be charged between 2,000 (£1,700) and 4,000 euros per person for transport from Athens to Crete, and onward by sea to Italy.

Chris Hogben, deputy head of the NCA’s Project Invigor organised immigration crime taskforce, said: “The migrants, including many women and children, were kept in very poor conditions in caves and squalid farm buildings.

“This NCA’s work in partnership with Greek authorities continues to produce important results. Our close collaboration and intelligence sharing is vital to our ability to protect life and disrupt the criminals making money from people’s misery.

“We will continue to work with our partners around the world and in the UK to pursue organised people smugglers, and take action against them.”

The people who were rescued are now being cared for by Greek authorities.