A shipment of 25 inflatable boats, capable of transporting an estimated 1,700 migrants across the English Channel, was seized at East Midlands Airport on October 2, officials said. The National Crime Agency (NCA) disclosed that the boats had arrived from Turkey and were being forwarded to the Netherlands when intercepted in transit through the British freight hub.

Each of the vessels measures approximately nine metres in length and is intended for use in illicit cross-Channel crossings. While slightly smaller than the so-called mega-dinghies—often exceeding ten metres—these boats still present a significant capacity, with the NCA estimating that each could carry around 68 people.

This recent seizure is part of a wider effort to disrupt the supply chain feeding people smuggling operations along the French coast. In July, a similar shipment containing 25 boats and 25 engines was intercepted at the port of Felixstowe en route to Germany. Craig Turner, deputy director of investigations at the NCA, emphasized that the agency works collaboratively with international partners to prevent such shipments from reaching criminal networks. He stated that, so far, the operations have resulted in the seizure of more than 1,600 boats and engines.

The NCA’s latest assessment indicates that logistical challenges affecting the availability of boats and engines have contributed to a decline in small boat migrant arrivals to the UK this year. Anna Turley, the minister for border security and asylum, highlighted progress in controlling illegal crossings, noting that this summer saw the lowest number of small boat arrivals since 2020. She also reported a 74 percent increase in arrests related to immigration offenses compared to the previous year.

Authorities reaffirmed their commitment to maintaining stringent border control measures and continuing efforts to disrupt the networks behind cross-Channel smuggling activities.