BBC - Violent Channel smuggling gang's French and UK network

FriedGreenTomatoes2

Because I’m a realist?

Okay. Let’s be even handed here growstuff.
Shall we both review the numbers in say, 3 months?

😂😂😂

In the meantits costing (conservative estimate) £6million a day.

We must need our bumps feeling.

What do you suggest?

The government is trying to break up the gang networks. It's investing more money in staff and co-operating more proactively with other countries.

What else should it do?

FriedGreenTomatoes2

Because I’m a realist?

Okay. Let’s be even handed here growstuff.
Shall we both review the numbers in say, 3 months?

😂😂😂

In the meantits costing (conservative estimate) £6million a day.

We must need our bumps feeling.

If the new scheme ever works, it certainly won't be thanks to France. They're paying nothing towards it again, not even a cent.

the numbers

The numbers of people that is, humans. Just a thought.

Because I’m a realist?

Okay. Let’s be even handed here growstuff.
Shall we both review the numbers in say, 3 months?

😂😂😂

In the meantits costing (conservative estimate) £6million a day.

We must need our bumps feeling.

FriedGreenTomatoes2

150 arrived today - the first day of the new deal between Starmer & Macron.

It’s not going to work.

We need a deterrent that is more robust.

It's the first day! How do you know it won't work?

150 arrived today - the first day of the new deal between Starmer & Macron.

It’s not going to work.

We need a deterrent that is more robust.

Well something’s not working.
Channel crossings in rubber boats up 50% on this time last year.
🤷‍♀️

petra

escaped

So can anyone explain.....
Where are these boats being manufactured their hundreds? For every boat that gets across the channel, plus every boat that is punctured, there needs to be some jolly big outfit somewhere producing them.

The inflatables are made in China and come across the Turkish/Bulgaria border.
There has always been a lot of corruption there but a while ago a lorry full of the goods were intercepted.
A few border guards weren’t happy 😂

Was this the interception:

NCA works with Bulgarian partners to make major seizure of small boats

National Crime Agency officers have worked with Bulgarian law enforcement partners to seize a consignment of 25 boats that was due to be transported across Europe for use by people smugglers in the English Channel.

The inflatables were found in a lorry which had just crossed the Bulgarian border at the Kapitan Andreevo checkpoint on 26 July.

The seizure was made as part of an NCA operation, supported by Home Office International Operations (HOIO), targeting supplies of small boat equipment moving into Europe, which generated intelligence leading Bulgarian customs officers to intercept the lorry and discover the consignment.

Stack of packaged inflatable boats inside the back of a lorry

The boats, when inflated, are around eight metres long, and each would typically have been used to carry 50 to 60 people.

NCA Regional Head of Investigation Jacque Beer said:

“This was a significant seizure, with these vessels destined for use by the organised crime groups running small boat crossings from France to the UK.

“They are of the type typically used in highly dangerous and frequently deadly journeys across the English Channel, and are completely ill-suited for use at sea.

“Taking them out before they could reach the shores of northern France means we have not only prevented crossings from happening and lives being put at risk, but also put a dent in the profits of the people smugglers.

“The NCA continues to work with a number of international partners to disrupt the supply of these vessels, and other maritime equipment such as engines. Overall, this work has led to the interception of more than 650 boats and engines since early 2023.

“We assess that this activity is having an impact on boat and engine supply, making it more difficult and costlier for OCGs to source equipment.”

The seizure is thought to be the biggest single detection of small boats in 2025, and comes as the NCA, alongside HOIO, continues to work closely with law enforcement partners across Europe to share intelligence and mount joint operations targeting the criminal supply chain.

Kapitan Andreevo is one of the busiest land borders in Europe and is a key point targeted by human traffickers and criminal smuggling gangs.

Border Security Commander, Martin Hewitt said:

“International collaboration is a key part of our work to break down the business model of criminal gangs operating across borders, putting lives at risk.

“This seizure marks a significant step forward in our joint work alongside the NCA to disrupt the supply chain fuelling these dangerous small boat crossings.

“Our dedicated teams on the ground are working around the clock with international partners to take down the criminal gangs who put our border security at risk.”

31 July 2025

growstuff

escaped

I'm more than happy to leave it to the professionals, provided they can come up with some results.

I certainly don't have my finger on the pulse where everything is concerned, but here's another question.
If these boats are readily acquired, plus oars and electric pumps etc, (from where no one seems to know), then why can't registration checks and controls be made at the point of sale? At least then there would be some kind of record to trace, like with cars, vans etc. I can't even hire a car at Marseille airport without showing loads of documents and being thoroughly checked out.

Many of the inflatables are stored in Germany. There has been a recent agreement whereby the German police have committed to being more pro-active in searching for them.

I posted this link before, but here is a list of some of the NCA investigations, including prosecutions:

www.nationalcrimeagency.gov.uk/component/tags/tag/people-smuggling

👍

escaped

petra

escaped

So can anyone explain.....
Where are these boats being manufactured their hundreds? For every boat that gets across the channel, plus every boat that is punctured, there needs to be some jolly big outfit somewhere producing them.

The inflatables are made in China and come across the Turkish/Bulgaria border.
There has always been a lot of corruption there but a while ago a lorry full of the goods were intercepted.
A few border guards weren’t happy 😂

Right. And then how do they travel up the A25 to Dunkerque without being noticed? Hundreds of them?

In the back of a lorry, I would imagine. I don't know how much space a deflated dinghy takes up.

escaped

I'm more than happy to leave it to the professionals, provided they can come up with some results.

I certainly don't have my finger on the pulse where everything is concerned, but here's another question.
If these boats are readily acquired, plus oars and electric pumps etc, (from where no one seems to know), then why can't registration checks and controls be made at the point of sale? At least then there would be some kind of record to trace, like with cars, vans etc. I can't even hire a car at Marseille airport without showing loads of documents and being thoroughly checked out.

Many of the inflatables are stored in Germany. There has been a recent agreement whereby the German police have committed to being more pro-active in searching for them.

I posted this link before, but here is a list of some of the NCA investigations, including prosecutions:

www.nationalcrimeagency.gov.uk/component/tags/tag/people-smuggling

petra

escaped

So can anyone explain.....
Where are these boats being manufactured their hundreds? For every boat that gets across the channel, plus every boat that is punctured, there needs to be some jolly big outfit somewhere producing them.

The inflatables are made in China and come across the Turkish/Bulgaria border.
There has always been a lot of corruption there but a while ago a lorry full of the goods were intercepted.
A few border guards weren’t happy 😂

Right. And then how do they travel up the A25 to Dunkerque without being noticed? Hundreds of them?

icanhandthemback

*growstuff*, there have been a number of successful prosecutions after investigations of your so called "amateur sleuths". Far from getting in the way, they have documented evidence the police can use.

Exactly - the BBC would hardly announce it until action had been taken against all those identified and they were, as far as possible, in custody, would they?

escaped

So can anyone explain.....
Where are these boats being manufactured their hundreds? For every boat that gets across the channel, plus every boat that is punctured, there needs to be some jolly big outfit somewhere producing them.

The inflatables are made in China and come across the Turkish/Bulgaria border.
There has always been a lot of corruption there but a while ago a lorry full of the goods were intercepted.
A few border guards weren’t happy 😂

I'm more than happy to leave it to the professionals, provided they can come up with some results.

I certainly don't have my finger on the pulse where everything is concerned, but here's another question.
If these boats are readily acquired, plus oars and electric pumps etc, (from where no one seems to know), then why can't registration checks and controls be made at the point of sale? At least then there would be some kind of record to trace, like with cars, vans etc. I can't even hire a car at Marseille airport without showing loads of documents and being thoroughly checked out.

woodenspoon

I think the French are only too pleased to see them sail on their merry way. They do very little to stop them. Nobody else wants them except the UK where most end up in hotels.

Most do not end up in hotels. (sigh - what a shame the facts need to be twisted, so meaningful discussions can't take place).

icanhandthemback

*growstuff*, there have been a number of successful prosecutions after investigations of your so called "amateur sleuths". Far from getting in the way, they have documented evidence the police can use.

They do get in the way. You don't know that the police weren't on to this particular gang and were waiting to see if they could trace the network back to the organisers?

I think the French are only too pleased to see them sail on their merry way. They do very little to stop them. Nobody else wants them except the UK where most end up in hotels.

Oh dear Primrose, what did you say?

Amateur sleuths cause a huge number of problems. And full on racists like Yaxley Lennon and his mob threaten trials.

Leave it to professionals, instead of using human misery and chaos to raise your profile.

growstuff, there have been a number of successful prosecutions after investigations of your so called "amateur sleuths". Far from getting in the way, they have documented evidence the police can use.

I'm not the one being stupid!

Patrick Christys discovered virtually nothing. He also alerted the "runners" that they had been discovered. If they're not dropped by the real organisers, they'll be moved on to a new territory with new phones. He discovered far less than the BBC and much much less than the NCA does. He's actually worse than an amateur sleuth.

If you don't know what you're talking about, it's best to say nothing.

Message deleted by Gransnet. Here's a link to our Talk guidelines.

One wonders if reporters can find out this information, why the police can't. Smashing the gangs doesn't really seem to be much of a priority.

So can anyone explain.....
Where are these boats being manufactured their hundreds? For every boat that gets across the channel, plus every boat that is punctured, there needs to be some jolly big outfit somewhere producing them.

I'm not sure the French really care about stopping migrants leaving their shores for the UK. It's not in their interests. All Macron's grand gesturing about France has a shared responsibility and will step up its efforts to deliver sound great, but I wouldn't hold my breath that anything much will materialise. I'm not sure the French really care about stopping migrants leaving their shores.