Belgian authorities have launched a major crackdown on small boat smuggling gangs, arresting dozens of suspects and hundreds of migrants as criminal networks shift operations from France to Belgium. The move follows increased French police patrols along the coast, forcing smugglers to adapt their tactics. British and French officials have also strengthened cooperation to combat illegal migration across the English Channel.
Small boat smuggling gangs operating across the English Channel have faced a significant crackdown as they shift their operations from France to Belgium, according to a new report by the Mail On Sunday.
The criminal networks, which have long exploited vulnerable migrants seeking to reach the UK, are now attempting to evade heightened French police patrols by launching so-called 'taxi boats' from West Flanders, a region south-west of Bruges. These boats transport migrants from Belgium, as well as those picked up from remote coastal areas in northern France, including Dunkirk and Calais.
However, Belgian authorities have responded with unprecedented force, arresting 40 suspected smugglers and over 360 migrants since the beginning of the year. This marks a stark contrast to previous years, when French police often appeared reluctant to intervene as migrants waded into the water to board flimsy inflatable vessels. Belgian officials attribute the surge in small boat launches from their coast to increased French law enforcement presence along the border.
A spokesperson for the Federale Politie noted that in 2024 and 2025, the number of such launches from Belgium was negligible—between zero and one per year. However, in just the first four months of 2026, authorities recorded 27 attempted crossings, with five additional failed attempts. The spokesperson explained that organized crime groups are adapting their tactics in response to disruptions in their business models, with some now attempting to move migrants from Belgium instead.
Belgian police have ramped up patrols and launched public awareness campaigns to encourage reporting of suspicious activity. The country has also maintained strong intelligence-sharing partnerships with French, German, and British law enforcement agencies, including the UK’s National Crime Agency. Belgium’s efforts have been particularly notable given its history of deporting around 50% of 'transit migrants'—those passing through the country en route to other destinations.
While arrests at ports like Zeebrugge have declined due to enhanced security measures, the shift to small boat smuggling has led to a rise in apprehensions along the coast. In 2020 and 2021, Belgian authorities arrested 4,238 and 3,458 migrants, respectively, but this number dropped to 352 in 2025.
However, the trend reversed in 2026, with 364 arrests already recorded by mid-year. The Belgian Immigration Office confirmed that the increase is linked to the shift in migration routes from France to the Belgian coast, particularly in West Flanders, where at least 333 transit migrants have been detained so far this year.
Meanwhile, British and French officials have reiterated their commitment to combating cross-Channel smuggling. Last month, UK Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood and French Interior Minister Laurent Nunez announced that 480 smugglers were arrested in 2025, thanks to a new three-year Anglo-French agreement. The deal aims to increase the number of law enforcement officers in northern France by 53%, from 907 to 1,392 by 2029, and deploy new technologies to intercept small boats.
However, skeptics like Alp Mehmet, former British diplomat and chairman of Migration Watch UK, remain doubtful about the effectiveness of these measures. Mehmet argues that most migrants will continue to avoid the longer and riskier journey from Belgium, given the Belgian coastguard’s readiness to intercept vessels. He suggests that the only real deterrent is the detention and swift removal of illegal arrivals.
As the situation evolves, authorities on both sides of the Channel remain vigilant, determined to disrupt the operations of criminal gangs while addressing the broader challenges of illegal migration
Cross-Channel Smuggling Illegal Migration Belgian Police Crackdown French Border Security UK Immigration Policy
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