Belgian police have made a significant number of arrests as smuggling gangs adapt to increased French patrols by utilizing 'taxi boats' from West Flanders. This crackdown underscores a change in migration routes and the ongoing difficulties in combating organized crime internationally.

Shift in Smuggling Tactics

Small boat smuggling operations across the English Channel are facing increased pressure as criminal networks shift their activities from France to Belgium. Previously concentrated along the French coastline, these groups are now attempting to bypass stricter police surveillance by launching vessels from West Flanders, a region southwest of Bruges.

Migrant Transport and Routes

These 'taxi boats' transport migrants aiming to reach the UK, with some passengers originating from remote coastal areas in Hauts-de-France, near Dunkirk and Calais. Belgian authorities have responded decisively, arresting 40 suspected smugglers and over 360 migrants since the beginning of the year.

Increased Enforcement and International Cooperation

This level of enforcement represents a significant change from the previous year in France, where police often allowed migrants to board unsafe inflatable boats without intervention. The shift is directly linked to a new partnership between the UK and France focused on curbing illegal migration, leading to increased patrols along French beaches.

Rising Launch Attempts

A spokesperson for the Federale Politie noted that small boat launches from Belgium were rare in the past two years, with zero to one recorded annually. However, in the first four months of 2026, Belgian police documented 27 attempted launches, with an additional five thwarted. The spokesperson stated, “Organized crime gangs will always try to adapt when their business model is disrupted, and it seems some have adapted by trying to move migrants to the UK from Belgium.”

Belgian authorities have also launched public awareness campaigns to encourage citizens to report suspicious activity. A strong intelligence-sharing network exists between Belgian, French, German, and British law enforcement agencies, including the UK’s National Crime Agency.

Migrant Arrests and Anglo-French Agreement

Belgium historically deports approximately 50% of 'transit-migrants,' individuals traveling through the country to reach other destinations. While arrests at ports like Zeebrugge have decreased due to improved security, the rise in small boat smuggling has led to a notable increase in migrant apprehensions.

In 2020, 4,238 migrants were detained, followed by 3,458 in 2021. These numbers declined to 352 in 2025, but have risen again to 364 this year with the shift to small boat smuggling. Last month, UK Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood and French Interior Minister Laurent Nunez announced a joint statement revealing 480 cross-Channel smugglers were arrested in 2025.

Future Plans

The ministers also unveiled a new three-year Anglo-French agreement to strengthen law enforcement efforts. This agreement will increase officer deployment in northern France by 53%, from 907 this year to 1,392 by 2029, and fund the deployment of advanced technologies to intercept small boats, including water taxis.

Alp Mehmet, former British diplomat and chairman of Migration Watch UK, expressed skepticism about the long-term effectiveness of these measures, stating, “Few migrants will switch from France to Belgium, whatever happens in France—which so far has been precious little. The greater distances involved and the Belgian coastguard’s readiness to intercept boats that have set sail make it unlikely.” He emphasized that the most effective deterrent is the detention and swift removal of illegal arrivals.