Nigel Farage has raged over a new Channel migrant farce (Image: Getty)

Mr Farage said: “This boat is even custom-made to match the Kurdish flag. The gangs are laughing at us.”

Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp said: “Far from smashing the gangs as Labour promised, the Kurdish people smugglers are now openly laughing in the government’s faces with an illegal immigrant boat decked in their national colours.

“Shabana Mahmood has failed.

Iraqi-Kurdish gangs control migrant smuggling operations from Calais to Dunkirk, this newspaper understands, with territory split up according to where the criminals are from, such as Erbil, Sulaimaniya, Ranya and Sharazoor.

Criminals from Ranya are said to control a large part of the territory.

Almost 4,000 migrants are believed to be loitering in camps waiting to cross the Channel, according to Border chiefs.

Duncan Capps, the Border Security Commander, said the number of asylum seekers in Northern France is roughly double the typical size of the cohorts in two tent cities.

But prices for those hoping to reach Britain have fallen to as low as £840. It is believed to be one of the lowest prices on record.

Mr Capps: “I think the French estimate at the moment is that there are almost 3,800 people between those two camps.

“Previously it was broadly about 2,000 between them.

“So, our understanding now from our French partners we work with closely is almost double what we would normally expect.”

He added: “There are a lot of people in the camps at the moment, which I think is bad in one respect because a lot of people are there but it also represents the fact that the French are making it very difficult, particularly in the Dunkirk-Calais area, to get across.

“There is a moment with this from a criminal perspective where it stops being particularly viable.

“And part of our strategy is to drive it to a point where it is not worth them doing this because the cost of getting the boat, the engine, the risk of them being interdicted and jailed, is so much that actually they stop being in this business.”

Director general of operations at the National Crime Agency, Rob Jones, told the committee: “The fact that there are more migrants in northern France is not a good thing – it shows the intent is high but it shows they are struggling to make the crossing.”

“It’s more likely than ever that your equipment is going to be seized,” adding that trying to cross the Channel was getting “riskier and riskier for everybody that’s involved.”

And prices for Channel migrant crossings have fallen to as low as £840, Mr Capps said.

Mr Jones said the unsafe dinghies used by traffickers typically cost them about £14,000.

Nigel Farage Rages Over Fresh Migrant Farce as Dinghy Leaves Belgium While Police Watch

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage has launched a furious attack on European border authorities after footage emerged showing a migrant dinghy leaving the Belgian coast while police officers appeared to watch without intervening. The incident has reignited concerns about illegal Channel crossings and raised questions about whether Britain’s efforts to tackle people-smuggling networks are delivering the expected results.

The controversial footage, reportedly filmed at De Panne beach in Belgium on October 29, showed dozens of people aboard an inflatable boat as several men struggled to start its engine. What made the incident particularly striking was the vessel’s unusual appearance. It was painted in red, white and green, with a yellow sun emblem, resembling the colours of the Kurdish flag.

Farage reacted angrily after seeing the footage, accusing Belgian and French authorities of allowing migrant boats to leave their shores without taking sufficient action.

He said that boats were now launching from Belgium and claimed that authorities were simply standing by and watching. He also criticised the unusual design of the vessel, arguing that people-smuggling gangs were becoming increasingly confident.

The Reform UK leader used the incident to renew his calls for tougher border enforcement, insisting that Britain needed a more decisive approach to stopping dangerous Channel crossings.

The footage quickly attracted attention across social media, particularly because Belgium has increasingly featured in reports about changing migrant-smuggling routes. Traditionally, many small boats have departed from the French coastline around Calais and Dunkirk. However, increased enforcement in northern France appears to have encouraged criminal networks to explore alternative departure points.

Belgian police have previously acknowledged the growing challenge. Police chief Christiaan De Ridder said that 33 boats had departed from the Belgian coast during 2026. He also reported that officers had disrupted 50 other smuggling operations, seized 37 vehicles and arrested 26 suspected smugglers.

These figures demonstrate that Belgian authorities are taking enforcement action, although the latest footage has raised questions about how effectively they can prevent boats from reaching the water.

The incident has also highlighted the difficulties facing European countries attempting to tackle organised people-smuggling networks. Criminal gangs frequently change their methods, departure locations and equipment to avoid detection. As enforcement increases in one area, operations may move elsewhere.

British border officials have warned that thousands of migrants remain in temporary camps across northern France, waiting for opportunities to cross the Channel. Border Security Commander Duncan Capps has indicated that approximately 3,800 people were present in two major camps, significantly higher than the usual numbers.

Meanwhile, the National Crime Agency has warned that organised criminal networks continue to adapt their operations. Although enforcement measures have made crossings more difficult, the continued demand for illegal journeys means the authorities cannot afford to become complacent.

Another concern is the falling price of Channel crossings. Reports suggest that some journeys have been offered for approximately £840, potentially making the dangerous trip accessible to more people.

For Farage, the latest incident provides further evidence that Britain’s border policies need a fundamental change. He has repeatedly called for stronger action against people-smuggling gangs and suggested deploying the Royal Navy to prevent unauthorised crossings.

However, the government maintains that cooperation with European partners remains essential. The Home Office has stated that France and Belgium are critical partners in efforts to secure Britain’s borders and disrupt criminal networks.

Ministers have also pointed to enforcement achievements, including prevented crossing attempts and the seizure of boats and engines. They argue that international cooperation is producing results, even though smugglers continue to develop new tactics.

The latest controversy comes as the number of migrant arrivals has attracted renewed attention. According to Home Office figures reported in October, 21,198 people had arrived in Britain through small-boat crossings during 2026 at that stage. This represented a substantial decrease compared with the equivalent period in 2025.

Nevertheless, the government faces continued pressure to demonstrate that this reduction can be maintained.

The Belgian incident also raises an important question about responsibility between European countries. While Britain is the destination for many of these journeys, the boats often travel through several jurisdictions before reaching British waters. Effective enforcement therefore requires coordination between police forces, border agencies and intelligence services across national borders.

Ultimately, the appearance of a migrant dinghy departing Belgium has added another dimension to Britain’s ongoing immigration debate. Farage has used the incident to criticise European enforcement and demand tougher measures, while the government insists that international cooperation and action against criminal networks remain central to its strategy.

For British taxpayers and communities, the central concern is whether authorities can prevent dangerous crossings, dismantle the criminal organisations responsible and establish a more effective immigration system. The coming months will reveal whether increased enforcement can deliver lasting results or whether smuggling networks will continue finding new routes across the Channel.

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