9 Iranians held climbing rocks after voyage to UK in tiny boat
NINE Iranians were being quizzed by immigration officials last night after being spotted scrambling up rocks from a tiny inflatable dinghy in the English Channel.
Police were called to the scene after they were seen near Folkestone Harbour, Kent, early yesterday.
Almost 60 migrants have attempted to sneak into Britain in just over a week, prompting fears gangs are exploiting the desperate.
Border Force last week stepped up patrols in the Channel following a spate of “brazen attempts to break into Britain”. Sources told the Daily Express boats carrying illegals are being detected almost daily.
Former minister Damian Green said: “People clinging to rocks in Folkestone are desperate and vulnerable to international criminal gangs.”
Chris Hogben, head of operations for organised immigration crime, said: “We don’t believe this is just desperate migrants trying to get over to the UK under their own steam. This is yet another example of organised criminals using more and more desperate and dangerous methods of trying to smuggle people in.”
On Wednesday, nine Iranians – including a woman and a four-year-old boy – were rescued from an inflatable at 5am. Later, 10 more migrants, and then another five, were picked up. On Friday seven Iranians were rescued from Samphire Hoe, near Dover.
The Home Office said: “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 to tackle people-smuggling at source.
“Nobody should put their life at risk attempting to smuggle themselves into the country across the Channel.
“Thankfully this route to the UK remains relatively rare.”