Chinese firms sell ‘inflatable boats for refugees’ online amid soaring migrant crossings to UK – ‘It’s just wrong’
During that time, many Chinese companies were openly selling inflatable boats online, clearly advertising them as “refugee boats” meant for people attempting to make illegal crossings. These boats were promoted directly to smugglers who help migrants cross from Europe into the UK.
On Alibaba, one of China’s biggest e-commerce websites, dozens of sellers offered “high-quality refugee boats” and promised fast shipping to Europe. These inflatable dinghies some as long as 12 metres were being sold for around $1,680 (about £1,266).
Investigations revealed that many of these boats are believed to have been used by migrants trying to make the dangerous trip across the Channel. Over a three-month period, researchers tracked ads from at least seven sellers promoting these boats in English and none of the listings were removed during that time.
The ads even included keywords like “Italy,” “Germany,” “Turkey,” “Morocco,” and “Libya” places commonly used as transit routes by migrants.
According to government data, the number of people arriving in the UK in small boats rose by 25% in 2024. Smugglers are now packing more people than ever into these unsafe vessels.
When journalists from The Telegraph pretended to be buyers, salespeople at some of these companies openly talked about the boats. One company, Weihai Yamar Outdoors Product Co, said they had many customers in Europe and claimed their boats were safe for sea travel. Another company, Hubei Jinlong New Materials, said Europe made up 25% of its market.
The boats are being advertised openly as “refugee boats” without fear of being caught. Neville Blackwood, a former UK police officer and expert in international law enforcement, said, “No one seems worried about being arrested. It’s just business as usual on Alibaba.”
But Blackwood warned that these boats are cheap and unsafe not suitable for sea travel and putting people on them could lead to deaths. “Advertising them like this is wrong,” he said. “It puts lives at risk.”
In Dover, UK authorities have recovered many of these small boats. Some have found up to 90 people packed into one vessel far more than what they’re designed to hold.
According to the United Nations, at least 80 people died trying to cross the Channel in 2024, including a four-month-old baby making it the deadliest year so far.
The UK Home Office is aware of the situation and has been speaking with Chinese officials about stopping these sales. In December, the UK’s National Crime Agency began talks with China about blocking the sale of engines for dinghies to smugglers. Chinese representatives also attended a border security meeting in London last month, showing they may be taking the issue more seriously.
Still, according to Blackwood, working together across borders can take a long time sometimes months or even years.
Even though the English Channel is only around 20 miles wide at its narrowest point, it’s one of the busiest waterways in the world, and trying to cross it in an overcrowded boat is extremely risky.
A spokesperson for the Home Office said: “We appreciate this research by The Telegraph. It shows just how complicated it is to stop international supply chains that criminal gangs are using. We are aware of these issues and are gathering strong intelligence.”
In the past 18 months, the National Crime Agency has taken down more than 18,000 posts related to illegal immigration services and seized over 600 boats and engines. The Home Secretary has also announced an extra £33 million to help fight these supply chains and trafficking routes.
