UK: Illegal Migrants Turn to Yachts, Reaching Remote Rural Communities via Inland Waterways

Image: Jihad Watch

Rural communities located miles from Britain’s coastline are increasingly being warned about the threat of illegal migrant boats navigating inland waterways.

On Monday, officers from the National Crime Agency (NCA) and Border Force arrested five men after intercepting a yacht carrying seven Albanian migrants at Chichester Marina in West Sussex, nearly five nautical miles inland from the south coast.

Authorities detained two crew members—a 42-year-old British citizen and a 25-year-old man—on suspicion of facilitating illegal immigration into the United Kingdom.

A further three individuals, including a 38-year-old British national and two Albanian men aged 24 and 32, were believed to be part of a “shore party” waiting to receive the vessel. They were arrested on suspicion of involvement in people-smuggling activities, while the seven Albanian migrants were taken into immigration detention.

According to Home Office intelligence, criminal gangs may have access to as many as 9,000 potential landing sites across the country, which could be used to bring migrants, drugs, and other illicit goods into Britain.

As a result, communities located up to 35 miles inland have been urged to remain vigilant for suspicious maritime activity. In Airmyn, a village in Yorkshire situated along the River Aire, warning signs have been erected encouraging residents to report unusual boat movements.

The notices, featuring an image of a yacht approaching the shore, ask residents: “Boats arriving at unusual times? Report it. Let’s sort it.” They also provide contact details for UK Border Watch through Crimestoppers.

The village of around 800 residents has been included in Operation Kraken, a Home Office-backed initiative designed to encourage the reporting of suspicious or unusual activity on the nation’s waterways.

(This Article was originally published by Jihad Watch)