Seven Albanian migrants were found on a yacht intercepted nearly five nautical miles inland as officials warn gangs are exploiting Britain’s waterways.
Inland waterways such as Chichester marina have seen migrant boats land (Image: Getty)
Rural communities far from Britain’s coastline are being warned they could become targets for illegal migrant landings after a yacht carrying Albanian nationals was intercepted miles inland.
National Crime Agency and Border Force officers arrested five men on Monday after stopping a vessel at Chichester Marina in West Sussex, almost five nautical miles from the south coast.
Seven Albanian migrants discovered on board were taken into immigration detention following the operation.
Two crew members, a 42-year-old British man and another man aged 25, were arrested on suspicion of facilitating illegal immigration into the UK.
Officers also detained three more men believed to have been waiting on shore to meet the yacht. They included a 38-year-old British national and two Albanian men aged 24 and 32.
All three were arrested on suspicion of people smuggling offences.
The operation comes amid growing concern that criminal gangs are exploiting Britain’s rivers, harbours and inland waterways to evade detection, reports GB News.
According to Home Office intelligence, there are believed to be as many as 9,000 potential landing spots around the UK coastline which could be used to bring migrants, drugs and contraband into the country.
Communities located many miles from the sea have now been urged to stay alert for suspicious maritime activity.
Residents in Airmyn, a village in Yorkshire situated along the River Aire around 35 miles inland, have seen warning signs installed as part of a government-backed border security campaign.
The notices state: “Boats arriving at unusual times? Report it Let’s sort it.”
The signs, featuring an image of a yacht nearing shore, advise members of the public to contact UK Border Watch through Crimestoppers if they witness suspicious behaviour.
The initiative forms part of Operation Kraken, a Home Office-supported campaign encouraging coastal and riverside communities to report unusual maritime activity.
Tony Smith, former director general of Border Force, suggested such routes were more likely to be linked to organised criminal networks than migrants acting alone.
He told The Telegraph: “It is more likely to be serious organised crime as opposed to opportunistic illegal migrants.
“These are people who have got money. This has always been a risk with the length of coastline we have.
“You cannot put a Border Force officer in every little harbour and monitor every beach and inlet.”
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Social media platforms have also reportedly been used by suspected people smugglers advertising journeys into Britain.
One TikTok post displaying a luxury yacht said: “We’re resuming the yacht to the UK this weekend.”
Another message stated: “Who is in Belgium? The yacht will be back tomorrow morning. Safe passage through the checkpoints.”
Researchers have warned the trade remains highly profitable for criminal gangs.
Mihnea Cuibus, a researcher at Oxford University’s Migration Observatory, said migrants are often charged five-figure sums to enter Britain illegally.
The same TikTok account is also said to have advertised flights into the UK, with payments allegedly collected after arrival.
Home Office minister Alex Norris said: “Make no mistake – we will use all powers at our disposal to take action against those seeking to smuggle people into the UK.
“Smuggling gangs should be under no illusion that no matter the method they use, we will root them out and ensure they face the full force of the law.”
