Channel migrants offered discounts to film crossings for social media
Migrants are encouraged to film the journeys and then post them on TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram and Facebook in order to lure others into making the dangerous crossings.
In return, they get a cheaper crossing as the footage boosts business for the smugglers.
The new tactic was revealed by Paul Brisley, from the National Crime Agency (NCA), which has been taking down the social media posts in an attempt to stem the crossings.
Last year, the NCA triggered the removal of more than 8,000 social media accounts promoting crossings – up from 5,600 it had removed in 2023. It is estimated the takedowns accounted for almost half of accounts advertising people-smuggling services.
A total of 4,392 people in 80 boats have made the crossing to the UK so far this year and been picked up by Border Force vessels. On Wednesday, a migrant died after being pulled from the water after a group of people in a dinghy got into difficulty off the French coast.
Many of the migrants seeking to cross the Channel have connected with people smugglers via social media. One video on TikTok showed footage of a small boat being transported across the Channel with the Union Jack flag and an emoji pointing towards England. The man running the account is from Afghanistan.
The cost of securing passage across the Channel in a small boat ranges from £1,500 to £6,000, with discounts said to range between £1,000 and £2,000.
Talking about the discounts on offer, Mr Brisley said: 'The adverts show photographs of migrants in a boat, using videos of the migrants themselves as an endorsement of the service.'
He said incentives were offered for family groups, certain nationalities, women and children. 'They will also offer discounts if migrants take a video of their journey if it is successful, that they can then use to promote their service,' he added.
Social media adverts also promote services such as supplying false and fraudulent documentation.
'The criminals offer migrant smuggling services, the supply of false documents and fraudulent assistance with visa applications,' said Mr Brisley.
Alp Mehmet, chairman of Migration Watch UK, said: 'It's welcome news there is a crackdown on social media channels. It is disturbing to hear that they are offering discounts for video footage. It shows they are very entrepreneurial. This is a ruthless business making millions each year.'
Many videos are often accompanied by joyous music and showing British life and culture in a positive light.
'Social media is the marketplace'
An immigration source said: 'The videos are becoming more sophisticated. Social media is the marketplace for these journeys.
'The smugglers are getting more and more professional in their approach. There is also more competition than ever, so they have to stay one step ahead. They are making their adverts as professional as they can. That includes making crossings look as safe and peaceful as possible. But in reality, they are dangerous.'
This time last year, just more than 3,683 migrants had arrived on small boats across the Channel.
Some 261 migrants arrived after making the journey in five boats on March 10, taking the provisional total of arrivals for the year to 4,395 people.
A Home Office spokesman said: 'We all want to end dangerous small boat crossings, which threaten lives and undermine our border security.
'The people-smuggling gangs do not care if the vulnerable people they exploit live or die, as long as they pay. We will stop at nothing to dismantle their business models and bring them to justice.'
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