People-smuggling gangs are making staggering profits from the Channel crossings crisis, with new figures revealing the sophisticated networks behind the trade.
The ancient ‘Hawala’ money transfer system is allowing criminals to move hundreds of millions of pounds undetected, while the price of crossing equipment has skyrocketed to £14,000 per boat – costs being passed directly to desperate migrants paying up to £6,000 each.
Despite Labour’s pledge to dismantle these operations, crossings have surged 31% compared to last year, with over 6,600 arrivals already in 2024.
The crisis has exposed gaping holes in enforcement, from Chinese-made inflatables reaching European shores to European businesses operating in legal grey areas by providing temporary housing and transport.
As an international summit convenes in London, authorities are scrambling to disrupt the financial networks fueling this trade. But with smugglers constantly adapting their methods and migrants willing to risk everything, the government faces an uphill battle to turn rhetoric into results.
The lack of effective deportation agreements and France’s refusal to take back intercepted migrants leaves Britain’s borders vulnerable, calling into question whether current strategies can truly stem the tide.
