Last week, the right-leaning French newspaper Le Figaro published an investigation titled "Rescue or collusion with smugglers? Unseen footage of traffickers handing migrants over to the NGO Sea-Watch in the Mediterranean." The journalists behind the article gained access to a video filmed by Frontex—the European border surveillance agency—in the central Mediterranean on May 11, 2026.

The footage shows a boat packed with migrants being approached by two speedboats belonging to the German NGO. On board one of these fast boats are five men wearing balaclavas and paramilitary-style gear. Once the Sea-Watch 5 crew complete the rescue operation, the five masked men head back in their boat, and one of them makes a gesture — a thumbs-up — towards the NGO.

Far-right circles quickly seized upon the story. On X, National Rally (RN) president Jordan Bardella stated on July 16, that "this exceptional video footage is further proof of the collusion between pro-migrant NGOs and people-smuggling mafias." The far-right leader continued: "These left-wing NGOs must be considered accomplices to human trafficking and illegal immigration; they should no longer receive a single cent of public money and should have their vessels confiscated by public authorities."

Fabrice Leggeri, the former head of Frontex — who is the subject of an investigation in France for complicity in crimes against humanity allegedly committed during migrant interceptions while he led the European agency — does not seem surprised by the affair. "For years, certain NGOs have sought to smear Frontex and the coast guards in order to discredit public authority. It is time to ask whether they all truly pursue an exclusively humanitarian objective, or if some serve — deliberately or otherwise — the interests of the networks of smugglers and traffickers who profit from human misery," the former RN candidate for the European elections wrote on X.

To shed light on the matter, InfoMigrants spoke with Paul Wagner, a communications officer at Sea-Watch.

InfoMigrants (IM): What happened on May 11, 2026, in the Mediterranean Sea?

Paul Wagner (PW): On the morning of May 11, 2026, the crew spotted a vessel in distress on the horizon from the ship's deck. Our rescue boats were deployed to assess the situation.

Our rescue team then discovered a two-deck boat carrying 90 people; two were unconscious, and several were severely weakened. People were also trapped in the hold, and no lifesaving equipment was visible. All these factors confirmed a situation of distress.

We immediately and transparently reported the situation to the authorities and provided assistance to the people involved.

On that same boat, the rescue team encountered masked men, who posed a serious danger to both the crew and the people in distress. All subsequent measures taken by the Sea-Watch crew were aimed at defusing this highly dangerous situation in order to save lives.

The masked men remained on the boat and left the scene.

We also transparently reported this incident to the authorities.

InfoMigrants has obtained the email sent by the Sea-Watch 5 crew to the MRCCs responsible for the Central Mediterranean search and rescue zone on May 11 at 9:03 a.m.—immediately after the rescue of these 90 migrants. The Sea-Watch captain explains that after "taking the people in distress on board, five masked individuals refused being rescued, started the fiberglass boat's engine, and left the scene heading south."

Shortly after all the rescued individuals were transferred aboard the Sea-Watch 5, a Libyan vessel approached us, threatened us, and opened fire.

IM: You are accused of 'collusion' with smugglers; what do you have to say to that?

PW: What the [Figaro] video shows is no secret: Sea-Watch shared every detail of the rescue mission to authorities.

However, the allegations regarding this operation are false and serve to spread misinformation. Using the term "collusion" in this context is a lie. We have never engaged — and never will engage— in collusion with any boat in distress.

Our mission is to search for and rescue people in distress.

In reality, the current campaign by the right — which presents itself as an investigation — reveals nothing substantial.

IM: Do you believe there is a link between this rescue and the shots fired by Libyan forces at the Sea-Watch 5 that you mentioned?

PW: We have no information regarding the identity of the masked men on the boat in distress, nor do we have information about any potential links they might have to the militias aboard the vessel that opened fire on us.

It is worth noting, however, that past evidence has shown collusion between migrant exploiters in Libya, the "so-called" Libyan Coast Guard, and other Libyan militias on the one hand, and Frontex and the European Union (EU) on the other.

They often work together and reap considerable profits from doing so. Saving lives is not their priority. On the contrary, they accept the deaths of these people as a regrettable consequence that helps keep arrival numbers low. 

In 2023, a report by the Frontex Consultative Forum revealed that 50 percent of migrant boats spotted in the Mediterranean by the European agency were returned to Libya. Frontex prioritizes contacting the Libyan Coast Guard so they can intercept vessels heading toward European shores.

In 2024, the organizations Refugees in Libya and Front-LEX filed a legal challenge demanding that Frontex halt its aerial surveillance of the central Mediterranean. According to the two associations, the agency’s geolocation activities enable Libyan forces to intercept migrant boats at sea and return them to Libya. In the plaintiffs' view, this makes Frontex complicit in crimes committed by the country (arbitrary detention of migrants, murder, torture, rape, etc.).

The actual crime occurred after the rescue and was not filmed by Frontex: the crew of the Sea-Watch 5 and the people they had just rescued came under fire from militias acting as the Libyan Coast Guard.

For us, one of the most crucial questions is why Frontex decided to leave immediately after the rescue, even though it knew that these "so-called" Libyan Coast Guard units — known for their violence — were approaching.

Investigations by Le Figaro and Il Giornale [an Italian media outlet which is also right-wing — Editor’s note], along with the gunfire and legal proceedings, all constitute attacks and attempts to intimidate civilian sea-rescue organizations.

IM: The far-right and Le Figaro focus on the thumbs-up gesture made by one of the smugglers on board the vessel, viewing it as proof of a prior agreement. How do you respond to these accusations? 

PW: Frontex maintains good relations with Libyan militias; perhaps the latter gave them a sign of approval?

As far as the aid workers are concerned, there is no indication that the thumbs-up was directed at them.

It is evident that the footage was edited in a suggestive manner. It shows neither the lack of rescue equipment nor the two unconscious individuals located below deck.

Our rescue team encountered masked men behaving in a highly intimidating manner. [In situations like this], we strive to de-escalate the situation.

IM: Is this the first time you have rescued a vessel carrying identified smugglers?

PW: Encounters with armed, masked men aboard vessels in distress have been reported previously, notably by Sea-Watch and other NGOs operating in these waters.

On several occasions in recent years, rescue NGOs have been fired upon by Libyan vessels.

However, such incidents at sea are rare. These situations pose risks to both our crew and the people on the move.

Rescue organizations in the Mediterranean have witnessed Libyan militias forcing people — at gunpoint — to jump into the water from vessels in distress, as well as committing other acts of violence on board those boats.

The root cause of this violence lies in the EU's repressive border policy. As long as the EU fails to offer safe and legal pathways to Europe, people will be forced to take perilous routes.

This article was originally written and published in French on July 20.