Warning over people smugglers buying small boats
ANATIONAL law enforcement agency has warned boat suppliers in the South West and across England that they may be targeted by criminal gangs bent on acquiring small vessels so they can smuggle desperate people into the country.
The alert, which has been issued by the National Crime Agency, notes that since global Covid-19 lockdown measures were imposed in March 2020 the number of migrants attempting to enter the UK using small boats has increased significantly. UK law enforcement detected more than 8,000 migrant arrivals throughout 2020.
This in turn has led to an increasing demand for vessels to aid migrant English Channel crossings, with demand likely to continue as weather conditions improve through spring and summer.
Last December two people were arrested on suspicion of people smuggling after a boat ran aground on the Devon coastline. Eight adult passengers were taken to a centre run by Devon and Cornwall Police after the boat grounded at Horse Cove between Teignmouth and Dawlish.
The National Crime Agency said that organised crime groups were known to target legitimate sellers of vessels and equipment such as outboard motors and life jackets, both in person and online. There were even incidents recorded of boats and equipment being stolen.
The NCA have conducted a number of operations targeting those who supply boats to people smugglers, but the agency wants those in the industry to report concerns or suspicious activity relating to the purchase of boat equipment.
NCA head of organised immigration crime operations Miles Bonfield said: “Today we are directly appealing to those within the marine and maritime industries to help us stop those involved in organised people smuggling. Crossing the channel in vessels like these is extremely dangerous and life threatening – but the organised crime groups involved don’t care about safety or welfare, they just see migrants as a commodity to be exploited. We’re already working closely with a range of partners in the UK and on the continent to target the supply of these vessels, but we are now asking that the UK industry helps us and report any suspicions they may have.”
The NCA alert outlines a number of examples of potentially suspicious activity, including cash being used in large sums to make payment; an unusual combination of boats and equipment in one transaction; enquiries about bulk purchase of equipment such as life jackets; repeat purchasing of boats and/or equipment; lack of concern about the condition of the boat or equipment being purchased; online buyers travelling to collect the boat and/or avoiding providing a fixed delivery address.
Lesley Robinson, CEO of British Marine, the trade association for the UK leisure, superyacht and small commercial marine industry, said: “We are pleased to be working with the NCA to help raise awareness of this concerning issue and to reduce criminal activity. The NCA plays a key role in supporting the security and safety of the marine industry, and today’s warning about organised crime linked to small boats in particular is ultimately a safety issue and one that British Marine and our members take very seriously.”
The NCA added that people can report suspicions anonymously to the charity Crimestoppers, either by phone on 0800 555111 or online, quoting the alert reference ‘0647-OIC’. People who witness something they believe to be suspicious can call the police on 101, quoting Project KRAKEN, or visit gov.uk/report-border-crime.