Nearly 600 migrants cross Channel TODAY as Belgium becomes new small boat departure point

George Bunn
Sat, 18 Apr 2026 19:53:49 +0000

At least 250 small boat migrants launched from Belgian beaches on Saturday, as almost 600 illegal immigrants from Belgium and France crossed into UK waters.

This latest significant surge in Channel migrants has taken the number who have arrived in the UK so far this year to more than 6,000.

It was the biggest single day of small boat activity along the Belgian coast, since people smugglers began a major shift in tactics this year.

As well as a 70-mile stretch of French coastline, criminal gangs are now targeting multiple beaches in Belgium to launch migrant dinghies, in efforts to avoid French law enforcement activity.

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One senior maritime security source told GB News: "This is the biggest tactical shift from the criminal smuggling gangs in the last few years."

Until this year, Belgium had rarely been used by smugglers because of the distances involved and the robust approach of Belgian police.

Small boat launches from Belgium averaged around three to four a year. But so far in 2026, around 25 migrant dinghies have set off from that country's coast.

The source continued: "The criminal gangs always look to adapt and overcome any attempts by law enforcement in France to stop their launches."

He added: "Expanding their launch sites well into Belgium is a very significant and risky move. It adds much more time in the water for these flimsy vessels."

The source said more time in the water meant greater danger for those attempting the illegal crossing.

GB News understands some of the migrants who set off from Belgium on Saturday failed to make it to UK waters on their overcrowded dinghies and were returned to France by coastal patrol boats.

Despite some windy conditions in the Channel, around 10 migrant dinghies did manage to make the crossing.

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Now small boats are being launched from BELGIUM as migrants bypass French crackdown

Two Border Force vessels, Ranger and Volunteer worked alongside the newly commissioned Border Security Command vessels, Intrepid, Courageous, Contender and Enterprise, intercepting the migrant boats as they arrived in the middle of the Channel.

GB News provisional figures put the total number of migrants taken to Dover harbour at 585.

That would take the total number of illegal migrant arrivals by small boat so far this year to 6,060.

Winds increased in the Channel again on Saturday evening, are likely to curtail any further small boat activity for the next few days.

A Home Office spokesman told GB News: "This Government is bearing down on small boat crossings.

"We have stopped over 42,000 illegal migrants attempting to cross the channel since the election.

"We have removed or deported almost 60,000 people who were here illegally.

"But we are going further to remove the incentives that draw illegal migrants to this country and increase removals and deportations of those with no right to be here."