France deploys special unit to combat migrant smuggling

France is deploying a specialized 45-person “surge” team to the beaches west of Calais to combat human smugglers using large-scale inflatable boats to transport migrants across the English Channel. This new unit will utilize drones and aerial reconnaissance to target launch sites and disrupt the supply chains of boats and equipment before they reach the coast.

The deployment follows a record-breaking incident in which 260 migrants attempted to cross the Channel in a single 15-meter mega-inflatable boat, surpassing the previous record of 165. During that crossing, French authorities reported that at least 30 people fell into the sea due to extreme overcrowding.

The new unit joins 1,050 French police officers already tasked with preventing boat crossings. The announcement comes ahead of a bilateral meeting between French President Emmanuel Macron and Andy Burnham.