In a record-breaking attempt, 98 migrants were found crammed into a single, dangerously overloaded dinghy while attempting to cross the English Channel.
The small inflatable, designed for 50-60 people, was intercepted mid-Channel by Border Force, with assistance from the RNLI and Coastguard in rescuing the passengers.
This crossing highlights a concerning trend of people-smugglers increasingly overloading flimsy boats in response to crackdowns on their equipment supplies. The government’s recent focus on disrupting smuggling networks is reflected in this week’s arrest of a 44-year-old Turkish man in Amsterdam. The suspect, believed to be a major supplier of dinghies and engines, was detained in a multi-agency effort involving the UK’s National Crime Agency (NCA), Dutch, and Belgian authorities. He faces extradition to Belgium on smuggling charges.
The tactic of overloading dinghies has deadly consequences. Maritime officials in France report that cramped conditions have led to fatalities not from drowning, but from crushing in panicked situations. The rise in Channel crossings continues, with 32,900 migrants reaching the UK so far this year, a 20% increase from 2023. However, the number is down from 2022’s peak of 41,829.
Responding to the arrest, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer praised the collaboration between European authorities as “an important step,” emphasizing the need for more international cooperation to dismantle smuggling networks. He noted that, while the arrest marks progress, “other steps are necessary.”
The government’s focus on joint operations aims to counteract the growing number of crossings, especially after the decision to end the Rwanda deportation plan. However, critics like Robert Jenrick argue that the government’s efforts are insufficient, pointing to the steady rise in crossings and questioning Labour’s strategy on immigration control.
