Authorities at the UK’s National Crime Agency (NCA) said Saturday that a 27-year-old Sudanese man was arrested in connection with the drowning deaths of four migrants in the English Channel on Thursday. He was detained in Manston, Kent, and is being questioned.
The NCA said the man was arrested on suspicion of endangering the lives of others during a sea journey — an offence created earlier this year under new UK border security legislation — and that he was involved in illegally ferrying migrants from France to the UK.
How did the migrant Channel drownings occur?
French and UK authorities say the incident happened early Thursday off Équihen Beach near Boulogne-sur-Mer. Two men and two women drowned after failing to wade out to and board a motorised “taxi-boat” that would have taken them to the UK. Another 38 migrants were rescued from the Channel’s strong currents.
The Sudanese man and more than 70 other migrants made the crossing and were met by UK authorities on arrival; survivors will be questioned, the NCA said.
Smugglers have recently used a “taxi” tactic in which drivers in motorised inflatables wait at prearranged pick-up points and migrants run into the water to board. That method emerged after French police began puncturing inflatable boats on beaches. French maritime law limits pursuing boats at sea because of safety risks.
French officials said the victims were far from shore and were swept away by dangerous currents.
UK and France seek to stop crossings before they start
Both countries say preventing these perilous crossings is a priority. Mike Tapp, Parliament’s minister for migration and citizenship, said “every death in the Channel is a tragedy,” and vowed that law enforcement would continue working with international partners to stop journeys and bring those responsible to justice.
Tapp praised the UK Border Security Act for giving officers stronger powers to act earlier to disrupt, intercept and dismantle criminal smuggling gangs.
Home Office figures show more than 5,000 migrants have reached the UK via the Channel this year. Crossings have surged recently, including about 102 migrants rescued in two operations on Wednesday and two drowning deaths off Calais last week.
Edited by: Jenipher Camino Gonzalez