Small boats to cross the English Channel seized in Bulgaria
Mr Beer said the boats, which when inflated were about 8m (26.2ft) long and could have carried a total of up to 1,500 people, were "completely ill-suited for use at sea". The seizure was made as part of an NCA operation, supported by Home Office International Operations, targeting supplies of small boat equipment moving into Europe.The operation gathered intelligence which led to Bulgarian customs officers intercepting the lorry.Martin Hewitt, the UK's border security commander, added: "This seizure marks a significant step forward in our joint work alongside the NCA to disrupt the supply chain fuelling these dangerous small boat crossings."
Mr Beer said work with international partners had intercepted more than 650 boats and engines since early 2023.Just under 37,000 people crossed the English Channel and 695 small boats arrived in the UK without permission in 2024, according to Home Office statistics.More than 24,000 people have crossed the Channel on small boats so far this year, current figures show.
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