Channel smuggling gangs resort to 'mega-dinghies' as crackdown limits small boat supply
Once-rival criminal groups are being forced to work together because of a shortage of small boats, a BBC investigation has found.
People smugglers are turning to mega-dinghies as limited supplies of small boats hinder their operations, according to a BBC investigation. The UK and France are increasing police presence on the French coast to curb the influx of migrants. Gangs are preparing additional mega-dinghies, with crossing fees reaching up to €2,000 per person, up from €1,300 a year ago.
French police claim to be intercepting two-thirds of small boats before they reach the coast, leading to fewer opportunities for crossings. The migrants are now required to pay in cash to ensure commitment. In one instance, a dozen migrants waded into the Channel from Gravelines beach, with a taxi boat already waiting. The boat, which had departed from Belgium, was forced to set off from a greater distance due to the lack of smaller boats.
Small boat arrivals to the UK have decreased by 43% compared to the previous year, with 16,513 people crossing from France between January and September 2026. These crossings account for 40% of asylum applications between July 2025 and June 2026.
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