People Smugglers Now Offering ‘Cross-Channel Discounts’ to Lure Illegal Migrants Into UK
Migrants attempting to cross the English Channel are being offered discounts by people-smuggling gangs if they film their journeys and promote the illegal service on social media platforms like TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram, and Facebook. The gangs aim to make the dangerous crossings appear “as safe and peaceful as possible” to lure others into paying for the perilous trips.
The National Crime Agency (NCA) has been working with social media companies to remove such content, with over 8,000 videos taken down last year alone. Paul Brisley, a senior manager at the NCA, explained that smugglers use videos of successful crossings as endorsements for their services, offering discounts to migrants who provide footage. The cost of a crossing typically ranges from £1,500 to £6,000, but discounts can reduce the price to between £1,000 and £2,000.
The use of social media has become central to the operations of smuggling networks, with adverts promoting not only crossings but also fraudulent visa and asylum application services. An immigration source noted that the videos are becoming increasingly sophisticated, with smugglers competing to make their services appear more professional and appealing. However, the reality of these journeys remains extremely dangerous.
In addition to social media promotion, smugglers are offering additional services such as luggage transport and discounted hotel stays for migrants waiting to cross. Migrants are often housed in safe houses in Belgium and Germany before being transported to the French coast. Researchers from the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organised Crime highlighted that some hotels near coastal areas act as recruitment hubs for smugglers, offering discounts and additional services like shipping luggage to the UK.
The dangerous nature of these crossings was underscored by the deaths of two migrants in just 24 hours. French authorities reported rescuing several people from the water, with one migrant suffering a cardiac arrest and another dying from hypothermia. The use of “taxi-boats,” where smugglers launch boats in quieter areas and pick up larger groups of migrants along the coast, has contributed to the rising death toll.
French Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau has vowed to “rethink our approach” to tackling the crisis, following talks with UK Home Secretary Yvette Cooper. The UK is pushing for French authorities to intercept boats in the water and turn them around, a tactic that could help counter the use of taxi-boats. The Home Office is also introducing new offenses targeting those who endanger lives during crossings, with penalties of up to five years in prison.
The wide variety of nationalities attempting the crossing, including Russians, Germans, and Yemenis, has raised concerns about the UK’s porous borders. The crisis shows no signs of abating, with smugglers continuing to exploit vulnerable migrants and social media to fuel their lucrative but deadly trade.
What do you think about the use of social media to promote illegal Channel crossings? Should tech companies do more to combat this issue? Let us know in the comments. Don’t forget to like and follow for more updates on this ongoing crisis.
