In the wake of increased monitoring operations along the French coastline, Belgian authorities have reported an increasing number of migrant boats leaving the Belgian coast attempting to cross the English Channel towards the UK.
The French coastguard rescued 78 people as they attempted to cross the Channel from Belgium.
In a statement released on Saturday (March 21), the French maritime prefecture said that following a report to the Gris-Nez regional operational center of several boat departures, they deployed maritime assets in the Strait of Dover for surveillance and rescue.
A migrant boat reportedly experienced engine failure, and the French authorities launched a rescue operation. Seventy-eight people were rescued and disembarked for processing by rescue service teams on land. The French authorities deployed a total of four surveillance and rescue boats for the operation.
"Determined to reach the United Kingdom, migrants attempting the crossing in precarious boats often refuse assistance offered by French resources, accepting it only in cases of extreme emergency," the French government said in a statement.
"Given the inherent fragility of these systematically overcrowded vessels, the decision is made not to force migrants onto state rescue ships, thus avoiding endangering their lives in the event of a shipwreck," the statement added.
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Dangerous crossing
The shipping lanes of the English Channel and the North Sea are known as some of the busiest in the world. Additionally, weather conditions that include strong winds and roaring currents heighten the perils for the rickety boats and rubber dinghies often used by people smugglers to ferry migrants and asylum seekers across the sea. Water temperatures that drop to freezing levels during winter compound the dangers for people attempting to make this crossing.
The news comes on the heels of the resignation of UK Border Security Command head Martin Hewitt, who will officially step down at the end of this month. During Hewitt's 18 months in the role, small boat arrivals remained high. His tenure included government introduction of new legislation and coordination between agencies, but irregular boat arrivals remained high with over 41,472 crossings documented last year, the second-highest annual figure recorded.
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Adapting and finding new routes
As state forces continue to bolster security and border control, migrant smuggling operations have found new ways to adapt by finding alternative routes to evade surveillance and detection.
Amid increased patrols and monitoring operations along the French coastline, Belgian authorities have reported an increasing number of migrant boats leaving the Belgian coast to try crossing the English Channel by irregular means.
On February 24, 22 migrants left the Belgian beach of Oostduinkerke, about 10 kilometers from the French border. The next day, 15 migrants were found near the Nieuwpoort harbor, not far from Oostduinkerke.
Others have resorted to more unconventional measures, such as using luxury vessels.
In July 2025, two Ukrainian men were arrested during a law enforcement operation after British authorities intercepted a yacht they were reportedly operating. The yacht was found to be carrying five people and transporting them across the English Channel.
The duo had reportedly been operating a migrant "VIP" smuggling operation using a yacht to get across the water. Authorities said the smugglers charged tens of thousands of pounds for a purported 'luxury journey' to the UK.
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