UK Border Security Minister Alex Norris recently met with Belgian officials to coordinate a crackdown on people-smuggling gangs as migrants increasingly attempt to launch small boats from Belgian beaches. This strategic shift by smugglers, targeting towns like De Panne and Koksijde, is viewed as a response to heightened police pressure at traditional launch sites in France. While the Belgian Federal Police have stepped up land, sea, and air patrols, experts warn that these longer crossings from Belgium significantly increase the health and safety risks for those on board. The UK continues to support these efforts by providing surveillance technology, such as drones, to help track criminal operations and restore border control.
Date: March 13, 2026. Source: bbc.com