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Some smugglers shift to Belgium from France to move migrants into UK
Belgian police said 17 departures have been reported this year as tighter French patrols push smugglers onto quieter beaches.
- Smugglers are increasingly using Belgium's shoreline to transport migrants to Britain, a shift authorities attribute to tighter controls implemented along the French coast.
- EU border agency Frontex spokesperson Chris Borowski said intensified French coastal patrols are the primary driver, with smugglers adopting so-called "taxi boats" to facilitate crossings.
- There have been 17 departures from Belgium this year, compared to no more than two annually since 2021; migrants pay about $2,300 to smugglers while facing threats and abuse.
- "Every boat that departs is one too many," said Belgian Migration Minister Anneleen Van Bossuyt, as volunteers rescued 19 people from a sinking dinghy off De Haan last month.
- While Belgian departures remain comparatively small, officials expect more attempts as weather improves; the scale is dwarfed by the France-Britain route, which saw about 41,500 crossings in 2025.
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Around 2,200 illegal migrants crossed the UK border in the first two months of this year.
·Belgrade, Serbia
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Coverage Details
Total News Sources6
Leaning Left0Leaning Right2Center1Last UpdatedBias Distribution67% Right
Bias Distribution
- 67% of the sources lean Right
67% Right
C 33%
R 67%
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