The ongoing smuggling activities across the English Channel between the UK and France continue. According to Reuters, French police on Sunday morning (September 6) intercepted dozens of individuals attempting to cross the channel to reach the UK on inflatable boats.
French authorities deployed foot patrols and patrol boats to monitor illegal immigrant activities and prevent them from boarding small boats to leave the coast. However, several small boats managed to depart, leaving behind dozens of migrants unable to board.
The English Channel is one of the busiest shipping lanes in the world, with strong currents. Migrants often use overloaded inflatable boats that can barely stay afloat, leading to numerous deaths during previous crossings.
In August, the French coast guard rescued 157 people from a boat that caught fire.
The European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex) announced on September 4 that they will send ships to the English Channel and the North Sea to assist in searching and rescuing migrants.
Frontex stated that two Spanish ships will be dispatched from September to October, followed by a Lithuanian ship to support French patrol operations, with the mission expected to continue until January next year.
In April, the UK declared they would pay up to £660 million to France over a three-year border security agreement to deter illegal immigration across the English Channel to the UK. The allocation of some funds is contingent on the effectiveness of the agreement’s implementation.
Last year, the two countries reached a “one in, one out” pilot program: France would take in undocumented migrants arriving by small boat in the UK in exchange for the UK accepting a similar number of legally recognized asylum seekers with family ties to the UK.