Criminal gangs smuggling migrants across the English Channel are increasingly exploiting gaps in the European Union’s border control systems, with serious implications for the UK, a Brussels-based expert has warned. Frank Furedi, Executive Director of MCC Brussels, commented on Europol data indicating that in 2023, it identified more than 60 criminal networks involved in migrant smuggling, with more than 60,000 irregular migrants attempting the hazardous sea journey.
Mr Furedi condemned the EU’s failure to take decisive action, arguing that criminal gangs are operating with impunity and posing an escalating threat to the UK. He said: “Tragically, organised criminal networks smuggling migrants know that they have a free pass from the EU to conduct their affairs. They know that they face little hassle from the authorities in Brussels when they use the EU as the jumping off point for sending illegal migrants to the UK.
“It is evident that these criminal gangs represent an ever-growing threat to the UK since in recent times they have learned to use the EU mainland to finesse their operations.”
As of March 30, 2025, a record 6,632 migrants have arrived in the UK via small boats, surpassing the 4,600 arrivals at the same point in 2024. The increase is partly attributed to a higher number of “red days,” or calm weather conditions favourable for Channel crossings, which rose from 17 to 42 compared to the previous year.
On March 2, 2025, authorities recorded the highest single-day arrival this year, with 592 migrants crossing the Channel in 11 boats. Overall, the cumulative number of small boat arrivals in 2025 is 24% higher than at the same stage in 2024, when the figure stood at 4,043.
In response to the escalating crisis, Prime Minister Keir Starmer hosted an international summit on organised migration crime at Lancaster House in London earlier this week.
The summit brought together representatives from over 40 countries, including the US, Iraq, and France, as well as major social media companies like Meta and TikTok, to discuss strategies to combat people-smuggling networks.
During the event, he emphasised the importance of international cooperation, saying: “We are going to treat people smugglers like terrorists – we are taking our approach to counter-terrorism, which we know works, and applying it to the gangs.
‘We have got to combine resources, share intelligence and tactics, and tackle the problem upstream, working together to shut down the smuggling routes.”
However, critics argue that the Government’s approach is insufficient. Nigel Farage, leader of Reform UK, speaking in response to the PM’s remarks, pointed out that Channel crossings were 31% higher under Labour’s nine months in power than in the preceding period under the Tories.
He added: “He promised to smash the gangs, but he’s smashing Rishi Sunak’s record instead.”
In 2023, Europol supported 223 operations targeting migrant smuggling and human trafficking networks, providing 1,231 operational reports to assist national law enforcement.
The European Migrant Smuggling Centre’s report highlights the increasing digitalisation of smuggling activities, with criminals utilising social media platforms for advertising and recruitment.
A significant operation in February 2024 dismantled a prominent smuggling network operating across the English Channel. Coordinated by Europol and Eurojust, the operation resulted in 19 arrests in Germany, including five high-value targets.
Authorities seized 24 inflatable boats, 81 children’s flotation devices, and 14 engines. The network, comprising Iraqi and Syrian nationals of Kurdish origin, facilitated up to eight crossings per night, charging migrants between €1,000 and €3,000 for passage.
In 2023, law enforcement detected nearly 61,000 irregular migrants attempting to cross the English Channel, a decrease from approximately 79,000 in 2022.
However, around 30,000 migrants successfully reached the UK in 2023, compared to over 47,000 in 2022.
The ongoing challenge underscores the need for enhanced international collaboration and comprehensive strategies to combat migrant smuggling networks effectively.