A 27-year-old Sudanese man has been arrested on suspicion of endangering life after four migrants died trying to board a small boat crossing the English Channel, the National Crime Agency said.
The taxiboat sank just off the coast of Boulogne in the early hours of Thursday morning.
A massive rescue operation was launched just after 7am, with reports of multiple migrants in the water.
Francois-Xavier Lauch, prefect of Pas-de-Calais, confirmed two men and two women died during the perilous journey.
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The NCA confirmed an arrest was made this morning after the migrants, whose identities have not yet been released, perished.
The suspect was arrested at Manston processing centre in Kent on suspicion of “endangering another during a journey by sea to the UK”.
He remains in police custody and is being interviewed by NCA officers, who are also speaking to those who made the journey.
The NCA said 38 people were returned to the French shore, but 74 illegal migrants sailed on to the UK.
Four migrants died trying to board a small boat crossing the English Channel | GETTYThere is also an investigation led by French prosecutor into the circumstances that led to the launch of the boat, assisted by the NCA.
Craig Turner, its deputy director, said: "Working with colleagues at home and abroad, we are determined to do all we can to identify and bring to justice those responsible for these four tragic deaths".
Migration minister Mike Tapp added: "Every death in the Channel is a tragedy.
"Our experienced law enforcement teams will continue working relentlessly with international partners to prevent these perilous journeys and bring those responsible to justice.
"Through our Border Security Act, officers now have stronger powers to act earlier and disrupt, intercept and take down the operations of criminal smuggling gangs who bring illegal migrants to our shores."
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UK and French authorities have expressed growing concern in recent days that people smugglers are cramming larger numbers of migrants on each boat.
On Wednesday, two small boats made it to the UK, each carrying more than 80 migrants.
A Government spokesman yesterday said: "We are deeply saddened to hear about the deaths in French waters today.
"Every death in the Channel is a tragedy and a stark reminder of the dangers posed by criminal gangs exploiting vulnerable people for profit.
Two men and two women died during the crossing yesterday
| GETTY"We will continue working relentlessly with the French and our partners overseas to prevent these perilous journeys.
"The French authorities are leading the response to this incident and we are supporting their investigation."
Charlotte Khan, the head of advocacy and public affairs at Care4Calais, also released a statement demanding more routes be opened up to "refugees" to come to Britain.
"Another four lives have been needlessly lost to our deadly border," she said.
"As our Government continues to focus on ineffective deterrents, tragedies continue to happen. These deaths are on their hands.
"They could end the deaths on our border overnight by introducing safe routes for refugees to claim asylum in the UK. That they won’t is a political choice which shames them."