Smugglers' New Route: Belgium Boat Launches

0:00On April 16th, smugglers are switching up their game, launching small boats from Belgium instead of just France. These so-called taxi boats head out from spots up to 60 miles inland, then scoop up migrants along the coast. Cops report 17 launches this year alone, way up from just one or two annually since 2021. Numbers are still low compared to the main route, but better weather means more tries ahead. Over on the France side, it's business as usual, with over 5,300 crossing so far this year. Last Thursday, two men and two women drowned near a northern French beach, sparking a big arrest. French police now have the 16-year-old Afghan kid accused of steering the boat with 46 others aboard. That teen marked the first charge under a new UK law from January, banning and dangering folks on unsafe channel trips. He showed up in court yesterday, pleaded not guilty through a translator, claiming he was forced. The judge called the risk massive, potential deaths, and demanded him till February 9th at a higher court.

1:02Critics slam French patrols for standing by his boat shove-off while heavy tactics like tear gas get called out as overkill. UK's cut deals to fund French beach watches, dropping 16.2 million pounds for two more months, but returns are tiny just under 5. 100 each way amid thousands crossing. Intelligence sharing with Belgium has stopped some launches cold, yet the push from farthest spots shows smugglers dodging patrols. Expect this cat and mouse to heat up as spring rolls in.