Campaign to Disrupt Small-Boat Smuggling Networks

This year has seen a record number of fatalities among individuals attempting to traverse the English Channel from France to Kent in compact vessels. However, the foundational elements for these tragic journeys originate far from the French coastline. BBC South East investigated neighboring Belgium to understand how local authorities are endeavoring to interrupt the flow of boats passing through their territory. Insp Peter De Craemer of the Federal Judicial Police in West-Flanders stated, “We have to hit them hard.” Mr. De Craemer noted an increase in recent years in the transport of small boats and migrants through Belgium en route to northern France. He observed that some of these boats were discovered to be “of bad quality, and not up to maritime standards at all”. He explained that most of the equipment is manufactured in China and reaches Europe via Turkey. It then primarily moves to Germany, from where it is transferred to Holland and Belgium, before continuing to the French coast. “Now we see also the use of inner tubes instead of life jackets, so it’s really putting lives in danger.” He added, “We have to hit them hard and make sure nowhere is safe.” Germany announced this week its intention to strengthen its legislation to facilitate the prosecution of individuals assisting in the smuggling of migrants to the UK, as part of a new agreement between the two nations. On Monday, representatives from the UK, France, Belgium, Germany, and the Netherlands, including ministers and police officials, convened to discuss irregular migration. The Calais Group outlined its key objectives, which included enhancing law enforcement collaboration through Europol and addressing the exploitation of social media by organised crime groups. According to federal magistrate Ann Lukowiak, Belgium has historically served as a smuggling hub due to its geographical position in Europe. She stated, “Organised crime groups have logistical cells here, sometimes drivers have resting places in Belgium, before the boat is handed over,” adding, “We see that migrants are collected here before they go to the boats or the lorries.” Ms. Lukowiak mentioned, “Sometimes we have sufficient elements to identify an organised crime group,” and emphasized, “International cooperation is necessary because not all parts of that crime group are in Belgium.” She also noted, “We are trying to do work with source countries like Iraq and Turkey.” Police along the Belgian coast reported only a few small boat launches from their shoreline since 2020, but they conduct regular patrols near the French border. Christian De Ridder, Deputy Chief of Police at the Westkust Police, affirmed, “All of our teams are aware of the problem and have an eye open for it. “We get intel from the French and British police.” The Home Office has supplied its Belgian counterparts with additional resources to enhance security measures. However, Mr. De Ridder conceded that, despite the proximity to the French border, the longer sea journey from his country might discourage some smugglers. Mr. De Ridder also stated that authorities have made beach access more difficult; “We put in physical barriers, big concrete blocks so they can’t drive onto the beach like they did in the past with a trailer and a boat on it.” Belgian authorities indicate that some migrants have reverted to attempting to conceal themselves in lorries destined for Channel ports, particularly during periods of adverse weather. Earlier this year, barbed wire and new scanning equipment were installed to prevent unauthorized entry into vehicles at a fuel depot in Veurne. Mathieu Vander Paelt, director of Romac Fuels and Mattheeuws Eric Transport, reported that the issue at his site has been resolved following the implementation of enhanced security. “We have new cameras and I am looking at artificial intelligence, and if something is happening we get an alarm.” He continued, “We also have scanners and private security at night. We think they are now going somewhere else,” observing, “We see more and more often that the problem is going further away from the borders.” The governor of the Province of West-Flanders, Carl Decaluwé, stated that the number of migrants in Belgium’s coastal areas reached its peak in 2020. Four years ago, he noted, between 5,000 and 6,000 individuals in the area were attempting to board trucks at rest stops and access the port of Zeebrugge. Nevertheless, he confirmed that they have collaborated with the police and the UK Border Force to significantly decrease the number of incursions. However, Mr. Decaluwé mentioned that motorway parking has since become a target for smugglers, and he expressed a desire for more scanners to be installed. He also informed the BBC that one of his objectives was to prevent the establishment of migrant camps in his region. “We don’t want to have tent camps in our province. “I have seen what that could be in the north of France, starting with 100-200 people, and you do nothing and after some months you have a tent camp of 2,000-3,000 people and then you can’t manage it,” Mr. Decaluwé asserted. “The smugglers are always looking for another weak point.” The UK government announced it had allocated £1.3 million to Belgian law enforcement to deter and prevent launches from the Belgian coastline. Officials stated they are collaborating closely with Belgium to disrupt the flow of small boat equipment and prevent launches from Belgium.