People traffickers are making desperate migrants pay £12,500 for an inflatable dingy, a motor and 60 life jackets in their attempt to cross the perilous English channel.
An undercover investigation conducted by the BBC has unearthed the German link to the lethal human smuggling trade ferrying people across the treacherous waters.
The central European country has become a key location for holding dinghies and outboards motors used in the extortionate deals.
A total of 28,645 people are now believed to have crossed the Channel this year alone, almost eight per cent higher when compared to the same point last year.
At least 55 people have died making the crossing in what has been described as the deadliest year for crossing so far.
A map showing the path in which smugglers offer trips to desperate migrants
People traffickers are making desperate migrants pay £12,500 for an inflatable dingy, a motor and 60 life jackets in their attempt to cross the perilous English channel
A view of small boats and outboard motors used by people thought to be migrants to cross the Channel at a warehouse facility in Dover, Kent on February 4
A majority of the boats first begin their journey being manufactured in China, before being shipped off to Turkey and then travelling through Europe.
They are usually taken via cars or vans to the ‘particularly important transit point’ of Germany – the Global Initiative against Transnational Organized Crime reports.
In the city of Essen, a covert BBC reporter posing as MIddle Eastern migrant named Hamza, met with two human smugglers.
One gave the name of Abu Sahar – he had been in contact with the faux migrant for several months via WhatsApp.
When asked if he could see the quality of the boat, Sahar tells Hamza going to the warehouse is too ‘risky’ despite only being a ’15-minute’ drive away.
Essen is around four to five hours away from Calais – a distance near enough to travel but not too near to be heavily monitored.
According to the BBC, people smuggling to a third country outside of the EU is not illegal in Germany – a category the UK now falls into after Brexit.
Germany’s interior ministry has previously said ‘no direct smuggling’ takes place in Germany as the UK and the EU country are not neighbours geographically.
After a while a man called ‘al-Khal; – a term meaning Uncle in Arabic met Hamza and Abu Sahar with a man who is seemingly his bodyguard.
During their chat, the man who appeared to command a great amount of respect reveals there are around ten warehouses of boats and equipment in the Essen area alone.
A group of people thought to be migrants are brought in to Dover, Kent, from a Border Force vessel following a small boat incident in the Channel on October 4
Khal suggests they are diving up their stash due to police raids, to avoid serious disruption to their operation.
The smugglers confirm to the undercover journalist that they can get the equipment from Essen to Calais in around three to four hours, with boats often being delivered from the city in a single morning or afternoon.
After affirming Hamza’s legitimacy, Khal offers him a ‘package deal’ of €15,000 (£12,500) for 60 life jackets, engine, and fuel pump.
Hamza is also given the option of collecting the boat independently from Essen and transporting it to Calais for €8,000 (£6,670).
The undercover BBC journalist told the smugglers he could no longer do the deal and no money was exchanged.
Elsewhere officials have suggested that collaboration between Germany and the UK in taking on smuggling gags has ameliorated, with a Belgian interior ministry saying collaboration between the UK and Germany on the matter was ‘very good’.
A major raid was seen in February, with boats engines life vests and flotation devices being seized in Germany while 19 people were arrested.
The operation was done via Belgian and French judicial orders.
A large group of migrants attempting to cross the Channel are seen on a small boat yesterday
Dozens of migrants have been brought to shore by British Border Force officers on Wednesday after being intercepted in the Channel
A Home Office spokesperson said: ‘We are rapidly accelerating cooperation with other countries – including Germany which is a key partner – to crack down on the criminal smuggling gangs who organise small boat crossings.
‘Our intelligence and law enforcement agencies already cooperate closely on this shared challenge, but there is always more to do together.
‘We are strengthening our close partnership with Germany through developing a new, landmark, Joint Action Plan on Irregular Migration, as announced by the Prime Minister and Chancellor Scholz during his recent visit to Berlin in August.
‘Our new Border Security Command will be essential in this mission, enhancing international partnerships and boosting our ability to identify, disrupt, and dismantle criminal networks. In doing so, we will not only bring these offenders to justice but also reinforce the security of our borders and save lives.’
On Friday 4 October, the Home Secretary, Yvette Cooper, agreed to a major international plan to smash criminal gangs responsible for smuggling illegal migrants into G7 nations, including the UK and Germany.
Martin Hewitt, the new Border Security Commander, who began his role on October 7, is currently leading the co-ordinated response to enhance our border protection.
It comes as 300 migrants crossed the Channel on the same day three people tragically died and dozens were rescued whilst making the risky journey.
A small boat carrying around 50 people sank a mile off the coast of Calais with those on board falling into the water yesterday morning, according to reports.
A major rescue operation was launched, with nearby ships called to help and rescue boats and helicopters deployed that morning, the maritime prefecture said.
Three people were confirmed to be dead, with another injured individual being rushed to hospital by the French authorities.
More arrivals were spotted this morning arriving at the Port of Dover following the recent figures.
On the same day tragedy struck, around 292 people attempted to arrive in the UK via five small boats, according to the Home Office.
Firefighters cars arrive at the port of Calais, north-western France, on October 23, 2024, following the deaths of two migrants in an attempt to cross the English Channel
A police car leaves the port of Calais, north-western France, on October 23, 2024, following the deaths of two migrants
The migrants are believed to have made the crossing after a separate boat capsized 1.2 miles off the coast of Sangatte in northern France.
An alarm was raised at around 8am local time yesterday morning after a life jacket was spotted floating in the sea.
After being taken aboard the rescue ship, two people who were unconscious were declared dead after attempts to revive them were unsuccessful.
Another lost their life shortly after arriving at hospital, while the 45 other passengers were rescued by the French coastguard.
A total of 28,645 people are now believed to have crossed the Channel this year alone, almost eight per cent higher when compared to the same point last year.
At least 55 people have died making the crossing in what has been described as the deadliest year for crossing so far.
A UK Home Office spokesperson said: ‘This devastating tragedy is a further reminder that the people-smuggling gangs only care about the profits they make, not about the lives they put at risk.
‘We will stop at nothing to dismantle their business models and bring them to justice.
‘Our new Border Security Command will strengthen our global partnerships and enhance our efforts to investigate, arrest, and prosecute these evil criminals.’
Refugee organisations continued to urge the Government to set up safe alternatives to the dangerous crossing route, where deaths in the Channel have become ‘appallingly regular’.
It comes shortly after more than 600 migrants crossed the Channel only a day after a baby tragically died, slipping through her fathers hands whilst making the perilous journey.
Enver Solomon, chief executive of the Refugee Council, said at the time that there had been more deaths this year than in the previous three years combined.
He said: ‘This procession of death and tragedy shows we need to rethink our approach. Lives will continue to be lost if we carry on as it is.’
But the growing deadliness of the Channel does not appear to have deterred people from attempting the crossing to Kent.
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