Fury as small boat migrants used to smuggle heroin for gangs – ‘Labour is weak’ | Politics | News
An investigation revealed that some small boat migrants were smuggling heroin and cocaine into the UK. Smugglers from France are offering discounted passage to people hoping to reach Britain, provided they swallow packets of Class A drugs that will then be distributed to gangs in the UK. People are also offered “VIP passes” that allow them to travel with women and children on boats that are believed to attract less suspicion.
It is thought that the drugs were collected from people in immigration hotels. It is understood that some of the human traffickers are also drug traffickers. Heroin flows into Europe via the Middle East via Türkiye, and the UK is said to be the market with the highest demand for these substances. Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp said it proved small boat crossings were a humanitarian issue as well as a “crime crisis”. “It is disgusting that criminal gangs are using illegal small boat migrants to smuggle drugs into the UK,” he added.
“This route needs to be completely closed.”
Mr Philip then repeated in response to the question: Telegraph’s An investigation is under way into the Conservative Party’s plan to leave the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), which it believes would allow the British to deport all illegal arrivals within a week.
He then claimed that the crossings would quickly stop.
Mr Philip said: “But Labor is too weak to do this.
“They can’t control our borders, they can’t control drug smuggling.”
A Ministry of Internal Affairs spokesman said he did not recognize the allegations.
They added that the Government was “ruthless” in tackling the criminal gangs organizing the crossings.
“Every immigrant arriving illegally is subject to extensive security checks and searches to ensure no illicit drugs enter the UK,” the spokesman said.
This comes after France agreed on tactics to intercept small boats in the Channel, according to reports.
Le Monde said at the end of November that the change in policy followed a letter from Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer to French President Emmanuel Macron, calling on “it is crucial that we introduce tactics this month” and that “we do not have an effective deterrent in the channel.”
France has previously said it would review maritime rules to allow police intervention when in shallow water, rather than requiring boats to remain ashore.
But change appeared to have stalled, with UK border security commander Martin Hewitt telling MPs last month it was “frustrating” that it was taking time to introduce the rules.
