Criminals are upgrading to bigger boats to bring more illegal migrants into Britain and exploit high profit margins from low-risk smuggling operations, UK investigators said.
More than 3,000 people have reportedly crossed the Channel from northern Europe to the UK in 2021, double the number that tried during the same period last year.
Smugglers charge up to €5,000 ($6,113) per passage. The profitable trade is prompting gangs to use bigger boats to avoid the highly patrolled areas off the English port town of Dover in search of other landing spots, the National Crime Agency said.
Three men were arrested in November last year over an alleged attempt to smuggle 69 Albanians into the UK in a fishing boat. The trawler set off from Belgium but was intercepted off the coast of eastern England by British border guard vessels.
“Migrants transported via this method have a higher chance of being exploited by UK-based criminals than those detected by law enforcement arriving by small boat,” the NCA said in the report.
The rise in the use of boats in 2020 was linked to restrictions on air and freight transport because of Covid-19 and tighter security at the key French ports of Calais and Dunkirk.
The NCA said gangs and migrants were “attracted to the high success rate and low cost-high profit nature of small boats” compared with stowing away in the backs of lorries.
A senior NCA investigator told British MPs last year that it was cheap and easy to pick up a dinghy and outboard motor and charge migrants between €3,500 and €5,000 for a place on board.
Migration Watch, which campaigns for stricter immigration controls, said the use of boats had increased sharply since 2018, when just seven people reportedly crossed the Channel in the first five months of the year.
The NCA said that the number of migrants smuggled in vehicles on ferries and using fake documents on flights had returned to pre-lockdown levels in the final weeks of 2020. Boris Johnson’s government first imposed tight restrictions on travel in March 2020 because of the pandemic.
The new tactics are the latest sign of people smugglers adapting their techniques to cope with Covid-19 restrictions.
Some gangs were using decoy drivers to drive recklessly in front of lorries carrying migrants to divert police attention or block officers if they threatened to disrupt the trade, police organisation Europol said.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
About Takalam
Date started: early 2020
Founders: Khawla Hammad and Inas Abu Shashieh
Based: Abu Dhabi
Sector: HealthTech and wellness
Number of staff: 4
Funding to date: Bootstrapped
A little about CVRL
Founded in 1985 by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, the Central Veterinary Research Laboratory (CVRL) is a government diagnostic centre that provides testing and research facilities to the UAE and neighbouring countries.
One of its main goals is to provide permanent treatment solutions for veterinary related diseases.
The taxidermy centre was established 12 years ago and is headed by Dr Ulrich Wernery.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League final:
Who: Real Madrid v Liverpool
Where: NSC Olimpiyskiy Stadium, Kiev, Ukraine
When: Saturday, May 26, 10.45pm (UAE)
TV: Match on BeIN Sports
Developer: Ubisoft Montreal / Ubisoft Toronto
Publisher: Ubisoft
Platforms: Playstation 4, Xbox One, Windows
Release Date: April 10
Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
Available: Now
The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
In numbers: China in Dubai
The number of Chinese people living in Dubai: An estimated 200,000
Number of Chinese people in International City: Almost 50,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2018/19: 120,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2010: 20,000
Percentage increase in visitors in eight years: 500 per cent
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
More on Quran memorisation:
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Ronaldo's record at Man Utd
Seasons 2003/04 - 2008/09
Appearances 230
Goals 115
Essentials
The flights
Emirates and Etihad fly direct from the UAE to Los Angeles, from Dh4,975 return, including taxes. The flight time is 16 hours. Alaska Airlines, United Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Aeromexico and Southwest all fly direct from Los Angeles to San Jose del Cabo from Dh1,243 return, including taxes. The flight time is two-and-a-half hours.
The trip
Lindblad Expeditions National Geographic’s eight-day Whales Wilderness itinerary costs from US$6,190 (Dh22,736) per person, twin share, including meals, accommodation and excursions, with departures in March and April 2018.
