By Laurence Dollimore For Mailonline
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At least 150 migrants arrived in Britain by boat today as they took advantage of the good weather to make the perilous journey across the English Channel.
The groups were made up of mostly young men and male teenagers, some of whom put their thumbs up as they appeared visibly relieved while being ferried to shore by Border Force.
Figures released by the Ministry of Defence (MoD) today show the number of migrants to reach UK shores in the past 11 days alone is now 2,309.
Meanwhile, a total of 18,708 have sailed across the 21-mile Dover Straits so far this year, compared to 28,526 throughout the entirety of 2021 and 8,410 in 2020.
It comes after it was revealed this week how people traffickers have launched a £1,500-a-person ‘summer sale’ to cross the Channel illegally in a dinghy – mainly aimed at Albanians exploiting a loophole in UK anti-slavery laws – and advertised on TikTok with the promise: ‘The French won’t stop you – they will escort you safely until you reach the UK’.
The first 20 people to arrive to Britain today were brought into Dover, Kent on board Border Force cutter Ranger at around 10am.
The mostly male group could be seen carrying their belongings in black bin liners as they were led along the gangway for processing by soldiers in camouflage fatigues.
The groups of migrants who arrived to Britain on Thursday (pictured) were made up of mostly young men and male teenagers
Figures released by the Ministry of Defence (MoD) today show the number of migrants to reach UK shores in the past 11 days alone is now 2,309
A total of 18,708 have sailed across the 21-mile Dover Straits so far this year, compared to 28,526 throughout the entirety of 2021 and 8,410 in 2020 (Pictured: Migrants arriving at Dover Docks on Thursday)
The mostly male group arriving to the UK on Thursday (pictured) could be seen carrying their belongings in black bin liners as they were led along the gangway for processing by soldiers in camouflage fatigues
One man covered his face and body with a red blanket as the boat approached the harbour.
Around an hour later a further 40 migrants were escorted to the port on board the Border Force ship Hurricane.
They appeared relieved to reach the UK, with one man giving a thumbs up to onlookers as he was led off the boat.
A third group – including several women – were brought into Dover on Border Force vessel Volunteer at midday.
And Border Force vessel Defender arrived in the harbour shortly after 1pm carrying a further 30 people.
Among them were several teenage boys and a man with a walking aid who appeared to be limping.
The busiest day so far this year came on August 1 when 696 migrants were intercepted at sea by Border Force in just 14 boats – an average of around 50 migrants per vessel.
Some 28,526 people made the treacherous journey in 2021 – compared to 8,410 who arrived in 2020, according to official government figures.
A Government spokesperson said: ‘The rise in dangerous Channel crossings is unacceptable.
‘Not only are they an overt abuse of our immigration laws, but they risk lives and hinder our ability to help refugees who come to the UK through safe and legal routes.
Multiple accounts have been discovered on TikTok selling Channel crossings and promising ‘safe passage’
One of the TikTok accounts posted a video offering safe passage from Calais, northern France, for £5,000
‘The Nationality and Borders Act will enable us to crack down on abuse of the system and the evil people smugglers, who will now be subject to a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.
‘Under our new Migration and Economic Development Partnership with Rwanda, we are continuing preparations to relocate those who are making dangerous, unnecessary and illegal journeys into the UK in order for their claims to be considered and rebuild their lives.’
It comes as, amid continuing calm waters and warm temperatures, ‘never been cheaper’ prices are being offered on social media with experts finding that at least a third of the 3,000 migrants who crossed from France in the past six weeks used one of the offers.
MPs have demanded that ministers redouble their efforts to deport migrants to Rwanda following a surge in Albanians using small boats to enter Britain, lured in with cut prices and the promise: ‘Hurry Albanians … England is waiting.’
The price of crossing the Channel appears to have dropped from close to £20,000 to between £5,000 and £3,500 per person. In some cases it has been as low as £1,500 to fill inflatable boats landing on the Kent coast.
One advert said: ‘Don’t pay £17,800-£18,000. They are passing by every day, it has never been cheaper’, while another shows a group in a dinghy grinning while holding the Albanian flag and promising safe passage to the UK for £5,000.
Albanians are understood to be using a loophole in UK anti-slavery laws by claiming that they are the victims of trafficking to Britain for forced work.
It is said to help them claim asylum despite their home country not suffering civil war since 1997.
Leaked figures have revealed migrants from the Balkan country now make up four in ten arrivals from northern France with 1,075 Albanians arriving in the UK aboard dinghies and small boats in the six weeks to July 12.
They made up 37.5 per cent of all migrants trafficked to the UK in small boats by gangs during the period – now eclipsing all other nationalities including Afghans, Iranians, Iraqis and Syrians.
And TikTok is being used to lure them in with nine criminal gangs said to run the route to Britain. Experts are split, with some claiming it is a sale to coincide with the hot and dry summer Europe is enjoying while others believe it is ‘a closing down sale as they [gangs] are getting scared that the Rwanda policy will take off’.
Tony Smith, former director general of Border Force, told the Telegraph: ‘It may be the business model is struggling to handle new markets like Albania and may have to do a bit more of this sales pitch to encourage more people to do it.’
The ‘summer sale’ is said to be contributing to a rise in crossings. And now multiple accounts have been discovered on TikTok selling Channel crossings and promising ‘safe passage’ – along with advice on using the asylum system.
The Rwanda scheme was championed by Home Secretary Priti Patel
Albanian migrants are being conned by ruthless human traffickers into making dangerous Channel crossings before Britain’s next Prime Minister takes office.
Those making the perilous journey are being warned a new leader will halt all crossings with patrols, while also dropping their charges from £10,000 to £2,000.
MPs last night called on ministers to redouble their efforts to deport migrants to Rwanda following a surge in Albanians using small boats to enter Britain.
Leaked figures have revealed migrants from the Balkan country – a Nato member that wants to join the EU – now make up four in ten arrivals from northern France.
The escalation saw 1,075 Albanians arrive in the UK aboard dinghies and small boats in the six weeks to July 12.
They made up 37.5 per cent of all migrants trafficked to the UK in small boats by gangs during the period – eclipsing all other nationalities including Afghans, Iranians, Iraqis and Syrians.
Published by Associated Newspapers Ltd
Part of the Daily Mail, The Mail on Sunday & Metro Media Group
