People smugglers buying small boats directly from manufacturers
The NCA is working with its international network to find the suppliers of the boats to try to stem supply.
New intelligence suggests a large people-smuggling group responsible for around 10 per cent of Channel crossings set up deals with manufacturers to supply them with small boats.
During an action day on Tuesday by British and international investigators, 39 people were arrested and more than 50 searches were carried out simultaneously.
1,200 lifejackets, close to 150 boats and 50 engines, several thousand euros in cash, firearms and drugs were seized. More than 900 police officers were deployed in the operation.
The long-running joint investigation between the UK, France, Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands has been ongoing since November 2021 following the arrests of 16 suspects in France.
This joint operation followed a number of French-led operations which began last spring.
Matt Rivers, regional head of investigations at the NCA, said: “Given the number of boats seized yesterday, yes, we can expect a fall in crossings in the immediate future.
“Last year we had nearly 1,000 boats cross the Channel, 135 boats is just over 10 per cent, so we can work out from that the size and scale of the group.”
The large-scale investigation also found the organised crime group has been directly supplied with small boats for use in Channel crossings.
Carole Etienne, French public prosecutor, said: “The investigation revealed a criminal organisation with a very elaborate financing scheme. It is internationally widely spread with impressive logistical organisation, allowing it to smuggle migrants on small boats to the UK.
Jean-Philippe Lecouffe, Europol’s deputy executive director, said: “Recently the criminal business increased and the network developed its own logistical supply chain, acquiring boats, engines and lifejackets directly from manufacturers.”
Mr Rivers added: “Work is still ongoing but all indications are the boats are manufactured and produced in either Turkey or China. A lot of the boats have Chinese origin.
“The NCA is continuing to work with our international network to identify the suppliers of these boats and see what we can do to stem that supply.”
