Dutch prosecutors confirmed that a boat carrying 38 people found drifting without an engine near Cadzand had originated from the Netherlands. Two men are being questioned on suspicion of people smuggling following the incident, which the Netherlands Red Cross labeled as dire and unsafe. Crossings have historically concentrated around Calais and Dunkirk, but heightened French enforcement has pushed smuggling networks to test shores reaching from Normandy to the Low Countries. Despite these changing tactics, the UK government noted that overall summer arrivals hit their lowest level since 2020.
Key points
Smugglers are shifting maritime operations beyond traditional hubs in Dunkirk and Calais…: Smugglers are shifting maritime operations beyond traditional hubs in Dunkirk and Calais toward Belgian and Dutch shores.
International enforcement partnerships have successfully stopped more than 50,000 crossin…: International enforcement partnerships have successfully stopped more than 50,000 crossing attempts while seizing 1,100 boats and engines.
The United Kingdom recorded its lowest volume of summer migrant arrivals since 2020 amid…: The United Kingdom recorded its lowest volume of summer migrant arrivals since 2020 amid expanded cross-border intelligence agreements.
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- Published
Dover MP Mike Tapp says smugglers will keep adapting after it was discovered that a boat stopped in the Channel with 38 migrants on board had launched from the Netherlands.
Prosecutors have confirmed the vessel that was found floating with no engine near Cadzand on Saturday had entered the water from Dutch territory.
This year crossings have already been attempted along a wider stretch of coast from Belgium to Normandy.
The UK government said that overall crossings were down significantly this year.
"As launch disruptions grow, the criminal gangs will adapt and a part of that will be finding new launch locations and methods," said Tapp.
"That means our operational efforts must also be agile.
"We have seen a significant reduction in crossings this year, but we still have a long way to go."
Dutch Deputy Prime Minister Bart van den Brink, who is also minister of asylum and migration, said it was "highly disturbing" to see this happening in Dutch waters.
Speaking to RTL he said: "This problem was situated around Calais for a long time and…
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