Tuesday 9 August 2022 08:01 AM TikTok 'summer sale' for migrants: Smuggler gangs launch 'closing down sale' ... trends now

Tuesday 9 August 2022 08:01 AM TikTok 'summer sale' for migrants: Smuggler gangs launch 'closing down sale' ... trends now
Tuesday 9 August 2022 08:01 AM TikTok 'summer sale' for migrants: Smuggler gangs launch 'closing down sale' ... trends now

Tuesday 9 August 2022 08:01 AM TikTok 'summer sale' for migrants: Smuggler gangs launch 'closing down sale' ... trends now

People traffickers have launched a £1,500-a-person 'summer sale' to cross the Channel illegally in a dinghy - mainly aimed at Albanians exploiting a loophole in UK anti-slavery laws - and advertised on TikTok with the promise: 'The French won't stop you - they will escort you safely until you reach the UK'.

Amid continuing calm waters and warm temperatures, 'never been cheaper' prices are being offered on social media with experts finding that at least a third of the  3,000 migrants who crossed from France in the past six weeks used one of the offers.

MPs have demanded that ministers redouble their efforts to deport migrants to Rwanda following a surge in Albanians using small boats to enter Britain, lured in with cut prices and the promise: 'Hurry Albanians … England is waiting.' 

The price of crossing the Channel appears to have dropped from close to £20,000 to between £5,000 and £3,500 per person. In some cases it has been as low as £1,500 to fill inflatable boats landing on the Kent coast. 

One advert said: 'Don't pay £17,800-£18,000. They are passing by every day, it has never been cheaper', another shows a group in a dinghy grinning while holding the Albanian flag and promising safe passage to the UK for £5,000.

Albanians are understood to be using a loophole in UK anti-slavery laws by claiming that they are the victims of trafficking to Britain for work. It is said to help them claim asylum despite their home country not suffering civil war in 1997.

Multiple accounts have been discovered on TikTok selling Channel crossings and promising 'safe passage'

Multiple accounts have been discovered on TikTok selling Channel crossings and promising 'safe passage'

One of the TikTok accounts posted a video offering safe passage from Calais, northern France, for £5,000

One of the TikTok accounts posted a video offering safe passage from Calais, northern France, for £5,000

Another post on one of the accounts offers a Channel crossing from Dunkirk via a small boat or dinghy - and urging people interested to direct message

Another post on one of the accounts offers a Channel crossing from Dunkirk via a small boat or dinghy - and urging people interested to direct message 

The accounts include footage taken from aboard dinghies and small boats making the dangerous crossing - with those on the boats made to look like they are having fun

The accounts include footage taken from aboard dinghies and small boats making the dangerous crossing - with those on the boats made to look like they are having fun

A group of migrants including a babe in arms is taken into Dover yesterday

A group of migrants including a babe in arms is taken into Dover yesterday

Around 200 people crossed yesterday - around a third are now usually Albanians

Around 200 people crossed yesterday - around a third are now usually Albanians

Leaked figures have revealed migrants from the Balkan country now make up four in ten arrivals from northern France with 1,075 Albanians arriving in the UK aboard dinghies and small boats in the six weeks to July 12.

They made up 37.5 per cent of all migrants trafficked to the UK in small boats by gangs during the period – now eclipsing all other nationalities including Afghans, Iranians, Iraqis and Syrians.

And TikTok is being used to lure them in with nine criminal gangs said to run the route to Britain. Experts are split, with some claiming it is a sale to coincide with the hot and dry summer Europe is enjoying while others believe it is 'a closing down sale as they [gangs] are getting scared that the Rwanda policy will take off'.

Tony Smith, former director general of Border Force, told the Telegraph: 'It may be the business model is struggling to handle new markets like Albania and may have to do a bit more of this sales pitch to encourage more people to do it.' 

The 'summer sale' is said to be contributing to a rise in crossings. And now multiple accounts have been discovered on TikTok selling Channel crossings and promising 'safe passage' - along with advice on using the asylum system.

One such smuggler told an undercover reporter for The Sun: 'The French won't stop you. On the contrary, they will escort you safely until you reach the UK water border.'

They were then told to contact a solicitor upon arrival in the UK who would help to concoct a 'good story'.

The smuggler added: 'I can give you a number of a solicitor I have used for my relatives. They have managed to secure documentation (permission to stay) for half the Albanians in London.'

He continued: 'Three months ago one boy was kept in detention for a month, then he was freed by his solicitor.

'All others I have talked to after they arrived were sent to hotels, then they disappeared. They went to their relatives.'

The man was speaking from the TikTok account @franc_gomone_angli1.

It comes as another 150 migrants including small children and a baby were picked up in Dover after being rescued from the English Channel on Monday - amid calls from MPs to restart the Rwanda plan as soon as possible.

Tory backbenchers have called on the next prime minister to act urgently. 

Natalie Elphicke, Tory MP for Dover, said: 'It's clear many Albanians coming to the UK in small boats are not fleeing from war or persecution – they are economic migrants. 

'This is blatant criminality and it underlines the urgency of getting on with Rwanda and similar schemes.'

Another advert targeted at Albanians for crossings across the English Channel amid calls for the Rwanda scheme to be 'brought to fruition'

Another advert targeted at Albanians for crossings across the English Channel amid calls for the Rwanda scheme to be 'brought to fruition'

Three accounts were found advertising the crossings, with one bragging about how the French let migrants through and promising a price of £3,500

Three accounts were found advertising the crossings, with one bragging about how the French let migrants through and promising a price of £3,500

Tom Hunt, the Tory MP for Ipswich, said the 'truly eye-opening' figures 'underline why it's so critical that the Government gets on and introduces the Rwanda scheme', adding: 'We need to bring this farce to a close. 

'Legislation to bring the Rwanda scheme to fruition should be top of the 'in tray' when Parliament gets back after summer recess.'

Home Secretary Priti Patel said: 'No one should question this government's determination to break the gangs' business model.'

The reporter contacted three TikTok pages under the guise of a migrant seeking access to the UK.

One smuggler referred to himself as Gent and claimed to be the 'god' of people-smuggling.

He offered transport to the UK via a luxury yacht for £15,000 per person, while a second smuggler from Birmingham was selling seats in a dinghy for £8,000 for two people.

The @franc_gomone_angli1, which has posted videos from Crossing attempts, also said the Rwanda migrant policy has been 'cancelled' and the Government 'will send you to a hotel'.

A statement from TikTok said: 'This content has no place on TikTok. We don't allow content that promotes people smuggling.

'We work closely with UK law enforcement and industry partners to find and remove content of this nature, and participate in the joint action plan with the National Crime Agency to help combat immigration crime online.'  

Home Secretary Priti Patel added: 'Social media posts promoting illegal crossings are totally unacceptable.

'We are looking at reforming the system we use to identify victims of modern slavery, so that we can support genuine victims while making sure that the system is not misused.'

Another 150 migrants are picked up in Dover today after being rescued from the Channel - as over 18,000 have arrived so far this year and MPs demand Rwanda plan to be restarted as soon as possible

Another 150 migrants including small children and a baby were picked up in Dover after being rescued from the English Channel today - amid calls from MPs to restart the Rwanda plan as soon as possible. 

A total of 18,284 people have crossed the Channel so far this year - with 1,885 of those migrants arriving in August alone, according to data released by the Ministry of Defence (MoD). 

The first group of at least 80 people were brought into Dover, Kent, on-board Border Force ship Typhoon shortly before 7am.

They were escorted off the vessel by Border Force staff, before being loaded onto a coach to be taken for processing.

Two men could be seen supporting each other by holding hands as they walked along the gangway.

A second group of approximately 50 people arrived at the harbour on Border Force cutter Ranger at around 8am.

At least four children and a small baby wrapped in a blue blanket were among those led along the walkway by soldiers in camouflage fatigues.

And a further group were escorted ashore into Dover on Border Force vessel Volunteer at around 3.45pm today.

The group included a number of young children, with a soldier seen carrying a small baby along the gangway to be processed by UK officials.

Other migrants were spotted carrying their possessions in plastic carrier bags as they disembarked the boat.

While the MoD is yet to release the official figures for today, it is thought that at least 150 migrants have crossed the English Channel by small boat so far.  

A group of around 50 migrants were escorted ashore into Dover, Kent, this afternoon after being picked up by Border Force in the Channel

A group of around 50 migrants were escorted ashore into Dover, Kent, this afternoon after being picked up by Border Force in the Channel

The group of migrants were escorted off the vessel by Border Force staff, before being loaded onto a coach to be taken for processing

The group of migrants were escorted off the vessel by Border Force staff, before being loaded onto a coach to be taken for processing

The group included a number of young children, with a soldier seen carrying a small baby along the gangway to be processed by UK officials

The group included a number of young children, with a soldier seen carrying a small baby along the gangway to be processed by UK officials

A migrants gives a thumbs up as he is escorted ashore by Border Force officials this afternoon to be loaded onto a coach and processed

A migrants gives a thumbs up as he is escorted ashore by Border Force officials this afternoon to be loaded onto a coach and processed

Another 100 migrants including small children and a baby were picked up in Dover after being rescued from the English Channel overnight

Another 100 migrants including small children and a baby were picked up in Dover after being rescued from the English Channel overnight 

The first group of at least 80 people were brought into Dover, Kent, on-board Border Force ship Typhoon shortly before 7am. Two men could be seen supporting each other by holding hands as they walked along the gangway

The first group of at least 80 people were brought into Dover, Kent, on-board Border Force ship Typhoon shortly before 7am. Two men could be seen supporting each other by holding hands as they walked along the gangway

A second group of approximately 50 people arrived at the harbour on Border Force cutter Ranger at around 8am

A second group of approximately 50 people arrived at the harbour on Border Force cutter Ranger at around 8am 

At least four children and a small baby wrapped in a blue blanket were among those led along the walkway by soldiers in camouflage fatigues

At least four children and a small baby wrapped in a blue blanket were among those led along the walkway by soldiers in camouflage fatigues

A total of 18,284 people have crossed the Channel so far this year - with 1,885 of those migrants arriving in August alone, according to data released by the Ministry of Defence (MoD)

A total of 18,284 people have crossed the Channel so far this year - with 1,885 of those migrants arriving in August alone, according to data released by the Ministry of Defence (MoD) 

A lady carries a young child to a bus as a group of people are brought into Dover, Kent

A lady carries a young child to a bus as a group of people are brought into Dover, Kent

Last night, MPs called on ministers to redouble their efforts to deport migrants to Rwanda following a surge in Albanians using small boats to enter Britain

Last night, MPs called on ministers to redouble their efforts to deport migrants to Rwanda following a surge in Albanians using small boats to enter Britain 

It comes after the weekend saw more than 500 migrants

read more from dailymail.....

PREV Judge slams father of teenage driver, 19, for 'overindulging' him and taking ... trends now
NEXT In news vacuum, rumours and concern swirl over Catherine mogaznewsen