People smuggling supply lines have been dealt a significant blow after the UK's National Crime Agency led an operation to seize dozens of small boats.
The NCA confirmed its officers worked in partnership with Bulgarian law enforcement to intercept a consignment of 25 boats, that was due to be transported across Europe for use by criminal gangs in the English Channel.
The inflatables were found in a lorry which had just crossed the Bulgarian border at the Kapitan Andreevo checkpoint.
The seizure was made as part of a National Crime Agency operation targeting supplies of small boat equipment moving into Europe.
The investigation, supported by the Home Office's International Operations unit, generated viable intelligence on the lorry and its route into Europe.
Working on that intelligence, Bulgarian customs officers intercept the truck as it arrived at the border crossing.
NCA
|The seizure was made as part of a National Crime Agency operation targeting supplies of small boat equipment moving into Europe
A search of the trailer uncovered the small boats consignment.
When inflated, the boats are around eight metres long, and each would typically have been used to carry 50 to 60 people.
However, more recently people smugglers have been cramming even more migrants onto already unsafe boats, which are normally manufactured in back street workshops in China.
Just yesterday, amid chaotic scenes in the Channel as a huge surge of small boats arrived in UK waters, Border Force found two vessels carrying more than 90 migrants each.
The NCA's Regional Head of Investigation, Jacque Beer said: "This was a significant seizure, with these vessels destined for use by the organised crime groups running small boat crossings from France to the UK.
"They are of the type typically used in highly dangerous and frequently deadly journeys across the English Channel, and are completely ill-suited for use at sea.
NCA
|The investigation, supported by the Home Office's International Operations unit, generated viable intelligence on the lorry and its route into Europe
"Taking them out before they could reach the shores of northern France means we have not only prevented crossings from happening and lives being put at risk, but also put a dent in the profits of the people smugglers.
The NCA said it continues to work with a number of international law enforcement agencies, in an effort to disrupt people smuggling supply lines, including boats, engines and other equipment used in the crossings.
The Agency has revealed that since early 2023, 650 boats and engines have been intercepted by UK and overseas law enforcement.
Jacque Beer said: "We assess that this activity is having an impact on boat and engine supply, making it more difficult and costlier for OCGs (Organised Crime Groups) to source equipment."
The seizure is the biggest single detection of small boats this year.The Kapitan Andreevo crossing is one of the busiest land borders in Europe and is a key access point targeted by human traffickers and criminal smuggling gangs.
The UK's Border Security Commander, Martin Hewitt said: "International collaboration is a key part of our work to break down the business model of criminal gangs operating across borders, putting lives at risk.
NCA
|When inflated, the boats are around eight metres long, and each would typically have been used to carry 50 to 60 people
"This seizure marks a significant step forward in our joint work alongside the NCA to disrupt the supply chain fuelling these dangerous small boat crossings."
Despite law enforcement efforts, the number of migrants crossing the Channel illegally has hit record levels.
GB News provisional figures show almost 900 reached UK waters on Wednesday.
It takes the total number of migrants who have crossed the Channel so far this year to around 24,500.
That figures is more than 50 per cent ahead of the number who crossed at the same point last year.