Major Supplier Arrested in Crackdown on Channel Smuggling

Dutch police have arrested a key supplier linked to small boat smuggling operations across the Channel. A Turkish national, 44, was detained at Schiphol airport. The arrest, part of a broader crackdown involving Belgian and British law enforcement, highlights the dangers and rise in Channel crossings.

A suspected major supplier of small boats used by human traffickers in Belgium and northern France has been apprehended, Dutch police reported. The suspect, a 44-year-old Turkish national, was arrested at Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport and is set to be extradited to Belgium to face human trafficking charges, Eurojust confirmed.

The arrest was carried out in collaboration with Belgian and British police forces, along with the European justice and police bodies Eurojust and Europol. The individual is accused of providing small boats and engines to human smugglers operating in the Channel area, a notorious route due to its perilous waters.

The Channel, one of the world’s busiest maritime corridors, presents significant dangers for those attempting the crossing in small crafts. This year, over 50 people have tragically lost their lives in such attempts, with more than 1,300 individuals making the perilous journey to Britain in just the past week alone, according to UK government statistics.

(With inputs from agencies.)