Smugglers in small boats turn to Belgium's beaches

 

Smugglers in small boats turn to Belgium's beaches

 

1 March 2026

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c0q3pey2lpqo

Alex Bish

South East Investigations

 

Launches from Belgium have been rare in recent years but police say there has been an increase

Smugglers have launched migrant small boats from beaches in Belgium away from the traditional sites around Calais and Dunkirk.

 

Belgian authorities say gangs are using so‑called "taxi boats" that move along the coast to pick up migrants in the water before heading towards France.

 

Westkust Police told the BBC there were no crossings in their zone last year and at least five this year, adding that teams are now conducting targeted checks.

 

The UK government has provided £1.3m to Belgian law enforcement to deter smuggling attempts.

 

Belgian police said in recent weeks there has been small boat activity off coastal towns including De Panne, Koksijde and Nieuwpoort.

 

On Wednesday night, 15 migrants were discovered near Nieuwpoort marina, police said.

 

A Westkust Police spokesperson said: "They were carrying a rubber inflatable boat, an outdoor motor, and jerry cans of gasoline. Of the fifteen people, only four were equipped with life jackets.

 

"The findings indicate that the group of men intended to cross to the United Kingdom."

 

Police have suggested the recent rise is because of increased pressure on smugglers in France.

 

Deputy Police Chief Christian De Ridder on patrol in the coastal town of De Panne

 

The authorities said the last confirmed departure was on Tuesday night, when 22 migrants left from the beach in Oostduinkerke.

 

The Belgian Federal Police said it was stepping up patrols, both on land and at sea, as well as from the air with the deployment of the Frontex aircraft.

 

Officials say journey attempts from Belgium have previously been limited because the crossing is longer than from France.

 

Physical barriers have also been installed to make it harder to access beaches with trailers and boats.

 

Jarne Pollie, a journalist at VRT news, the Flemish public broadcaster, said "In the past they used De Panne, the town closest to the French border."

 

"Now we also see attempts from Koksijde and Nieuwpoort, which is further away."

 

It is not the first time migrants have looked for new routes for boat launches.

 

Last year smugglers began making attempts much further south of Calais and Dunkirk in the Dieppe area -112 miles (180km) away.

 

Tony Smith, the former director general of the UK Border Force said it was an ongoing challenge.

 

He said it indicates that smuggling gangs "are quite happy to move their operations, to try and avoid any patrols either by the French or the Belgian police".

 

"It's obviously still quite a sophisticated operation that's going on over there," he added.

 

He said: "The majority of migrants wade out to the boats that take them, so they're soaking wet up to their chest before they even set off.

 

"The boats are overcrowded and they're crossing the busiest thoroughfare for shipping in the world, it's extremely dangerous in every respect."

 

Government figures show 41,262 people crossed the Channel in small boats last year - the vast majority from France - a 13% increase in a year.

 

The figure remains lower than the peak of 45,774 in 2022.

 

Warmer weather has seen more people attempt to make the Channel crossing in recent days.

 

The government has pledged to "smash the smuggling gangs" in order to reduce the numbers crossing in small boats.