A group of suspected migrants have been found along the coast at Folkestone after arriving in the UK in an inflatable boat.
Kent Police said they were called at 6.54am on Sunday to reports of concerns for people in a boat just off the coast of Dover.
The Home Office confirmed that the Border Force responded, finding nine people on a small vessel who had landed close to Folkestone Harbour.
Seven Iranian immigrants discovered and detained by Air Sea Rescue washed up from a rib on Samphire Hoe near Dover on Friday
The group, all believed to be Iranians, were brought to Dover with the help of the coastguard.
A Home Office spokeswoman said: ‘All of these individuals will now be processed in line with the immigration rules.’
Border authorities have responded to a series of similar incidents on the Dover Coast in the past week.
On Wednesday, three boats with suspected migrants on board were picked up by the coastguard.
A total of seven men, one woman and a toddler from Iran were on board one boat stopped by officials at around 5am.
Another vessel, containing 10 Iranian men, was intercepted off the Kent coast at 9.15am.
Shortly after 2pm, a third boat carrying five people was met by a merchant vessel off Ramsgate.
On Tuesday, 14 men and three minors – all Iranian, were stopped at Dover Harbour trying to make their way into the country on board a fishing boat.
Reports in France claimed the vessel was stolen from Boulogne-Sur-Mer on the north coast.
The damaged dinghy that the seven Iranian migrants used to get to the UK via Kent
Emergency services respond to the scene of the spot where migrants landed on a Kent beach
French Trawler Le Tervier moored in Dover docks after it was stolen by Immigrants from Boulougne in France
In a separate incident, Port of Dover police then discovered seven men while searching a heavy goods vehicle arriving from Calais on Tuesday afternoon.
The Home Office said three of the group claimed to be Iranian, while four identified themselves as Iraqis.
A Home Office spokeswoman said: ‘We are alert to the risk posed by people attempting to reach the UK illegally via small boats.
‘This year we have increased the number of coastal patrol vessels and, in light of recent events, have stepped up deployments along the South-East coast.
‘We continue to work closely with law enforcement partners in the UK and overseas to tackle people smuggling at source.
‘Nobody should put their life at risk attempting to smuggle themselves into the UK across the Channel. Thankfully, this route to the UK remains relatively rare.’