Inside secret police warehouse as Germany targets small boats gangs

German authorities conducted their first raids under a new law aimed at targeting smuggling gangs using the country as a hub for small boat crossings to the UK, according to the BBC. Over 9,000 life jackets, dozens of dinghies, engines, and 360 pumps were seized during a joint operation involving the UK, France, and Germany in North Rhine-Westphalia.

The equipment is currently stored at an undisclosed secret location. Analysts believe the smugglers could have transported more than 2,000 migrants illegally across the Channel using these dinghies, with each boat able to hold around 65 people. The life jackets, which are barely suitable for the Channel waters, are packed tightly in cardboard boxes.

Earlier this year, the National Crime Agency reported the raids had taken place, estimating they could have facilitated the passage of over 2,000 migrants. The equipment was found to be of Chinese origin, often sourced from Turkey before being transported to Europe. Local prosecutors are uncertain about the effectiveness of the new law, as it is primarily untested.

Nevertheless, they confirm that the raids mark the first enforcement action taken under the statute. British authorities credit the drop in illegal crossings to the disruption of boat supplies and increased patrols on French beaches.