Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

Smuggler gangs' TikTok 'summer sale' boosts migrant crossings

An estimated 300 migrants reached the UK on Monday.

Smuggler gangs' TikTok 'summer sale' boosts migrant crossings

TRAFFICKERS are offering a TikTok 'summer sale' for a journey across the English Channel for migrants as the rate has been reduced to £3,500 per person from £5,000 earlier, it has emerged.

This has resulted in an increase in channel crossings in recent weeks as another estimated 300 migrants reached the UK on Monday (8). Last weekend, 513 people arrived in Kent by small boat, the ministry of defence confirmed. 


The Telegraph reported that the promotions were primarily targeted at Albanians. They now make up four in ten arrivals from northern France -1,075 of 3,000 since July 12. Experts said that the cheaper price offer is to open up new markets in eastern European markets. 

Reports said that the price of crossing the Channel was £20,000 earlier, now it is between £5,000 and £3,500 per person.

One advertisement said: "Don't pay £17,800-£18,000. They are passing by every day, it has never been cheaper." Another showed a group in a dinghy grinning while holding the Albanian flag and promising safe passage to the UK for £5,000.

Another account, with 61,700 likes, had dropped from £5,500 to £5,000. One of its videos said: “Hurry Albanians … England is waiting.”

Now, MPs urge to restart the Rwanda plan quickly as traffickers trick migrants into racing to Britain before Boris Johnson is replaced, the MailOnline reported.

“The gangs are facing tougher action. This is a closing down sale as they are getting scared that the Rwanda policy will take off," a Home Office source told The Telegraph.

Tony Smith, former director general of Border Force, views the summer sale as a sales pitch to encourage more people to cross the channel as 'the business model is struggling'.

The newspaper reported that Albanians are exploiting a loophole to claim they are victims of trafficking. Then they will be considered under UK anti-slavery laws, thus delaying or preventing their deportation.

The military intelligence report confirmed that people-smuggling gangs are deploying bigger boats ordered from China.

Now multiple accounts have been discovered on TikTok selling Channel crossings and promising 'safe passage' - along with advice on using the asylum system.

"The French won't stop you. On the contrary, they will escort you safely until you reach the UK water border. They were then told to contact a solicitor upon arrival in the UK who would help to concoct a 'good story," one smuggler was quoted as saying by The Sun.

“Social media posts used by criminal people smugglers promoting illegal crossings are totally unacceptable. This Government is already tackling this deceitful online propaganda, with law enforcement, social media companies and overseas governments," said Priti Patel, the Home Secretary.

She said the UK had a “historic agreement” from 2021 to remove Albanians with no right to be in the UK.

Tory backbenchers have called on the next prime minister to act urgently.

Natalie Elphicke, Tory MP for Dover, told the MailOnline: "It's clear many Albanians coming to the UK in small boats are not fleeing from war or persecution – they are economic migrants. This is blatant criminality and it underlines the urgency of getting on with Rwanda and similar schemes."

More For You

scotland-minimum-wages-iStock

Full-time workers on the National Living Wage will receive an annual pay increase of £1,400 in real terms. (Representational image: iStock)

iStock

Wage increase takes effect for thousands of workers in Scotland

HUNDREDS of thousands of workers in Scotland will see a pay increase as new National Living Wage and National Minimum Wage rates take effect from Tuesday.

The changes will benefit approximately 220,000 people, according to STV News.

Keep ReadingShow less
uk-energy-bill-iStock

Water bills, energy prices, and council tax are rising, while the minimum wage has also increased (Representational image: iStock)

iStock

April bill increases put financial strain on single parents

A RANGE of essential household bills are increasing from April, with Citizens Advice warning that single parents will be among the hardest hit.

Water bills, energy prices, and council tax are rising, while the minimum wage has also increased, BBC reported.

Keep ReadingShow less
Netflix drama Adolescence to be screened in UK schools
Stephen Graham and Owen Cooper in 'Adolescence'
Netflix

Netflix drama Adolescence to be screened in UK schools

THE NETFLIX drama Adolescence will be shown in UK secondary schools as part of efforts to address harmful online influences on young boys, officials announced on Monday.

The show has sparked debate over the impact of toxic and misogynistic content on the internet. Prime minister Keir Starmer met the show's creators, charities, and young people at Downing Street, calling the initiative an important step in starting discussions about the content teenagers are exposed to online.

Keep ReadingShow less
Sanger-Tribute

Indian high commissioner Vikram Doraiswami speaking at the memorial.

Bhavan London pays tribute to Joginder Sanger

BHAVAN LONDON held a tribute event on 27 March to honour Joginder Sanger, a British Indian hotelier and philanthropist who passed away at 82 on 28 February.

Sanger, born in Jalandhar, India, established several London hotels, including the Washington Mayfair Hotel, Courthouse Hotels in Soho and Shoreditch, and the Bentley in Kensington.

Keep ReadingShow less
Imran-Khan-Getty

Imran Khan, founder of the opposition Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, has been in jail since August 2023. (Photo: Getty)

Former Pakistan prime minister Imran Khan nominated for Nobel Peace Prize

FORMER Pakistan prime minister Imran Khan has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize for his work on human rights and democracy.

The nomination was announced by members of the Pakistan World Alliance (PWA), an advocacy group formed in December, who are also part of the Norwegian political party Partiet Sentrum.

Keep ReadingShow less