Reform UK leader Nigel Farage has commended GB News fan-favourite Patrick Christys for his investigative work uncovering people smuggling operations, describing it as "brilliant journalism" during an interview on the channel.
Farage emphasised the perilous nature of the investigation, revealing that many smugglers are now armed and that recent killings have occurred in migrant camps within the past month.
"For Patrick, a British journalist, to go in and confront a trafficker like that, he's either very brave or very stupid. Perhaps both!" Farage remarked.
The Reform UK leader's comments came in response to footage showing Patrick directly engaging with suspected traffickers during an undercover operation in France, where the journalist documented criminal networks facilitating illegal Channel crossings into Britain.
GB NEWS
|Nigel Farage praised Patrick's shocking undercover exposé
His explosive undercover investigation looked into how criminal networks facilitate illegal Channel crossings.
He also arranged to meet an alleged smuggler whilst pretending to be a Vietnamese migrant seeking passage to Britain.
During the operation, Patrick exchanged messages in English with the suspected trafficker before travelling to France for a face-to-face encounter aimed at gathering evidence for French authorities.
The investigation exposed the extent of smuggling activities in northern France, with footage capturing a tense confrontation between the GB News journalist and an individual suspected of facilitating illegal crossings.
The suspected smuggler, who emerged from bushes for the arranged meeting, became visibly alarmed upon noticing the presence of cameras documenting the encounter.
The undercover operation involved Patrick masquerading as a Vietnamese national seeking illegal entry into the UK, establishing contact with suspected smugglers through messaging services before the in-person encounter.
The GB News star had initially communicated with the alleged trafficker through written exchanges, but when responses ceased, he decided to travel to France to pursue the investigation further.
The arranged rendezvous took a dramatic turn when the suspected smuggler, who had agreed to the meeting, appeared from concealed positions in the undergrowth.
According to GB News reports, the individual had previously corresponded with Patrick in English through digital messages, facilitating the arrangement of their eventual face-to-face meeting in France.
The encounter formed part of a broader investigation into the full scope of illegal entry operations targeting the UK via the English Channel.
The investigation revealed the violent nature of these criminal enterprises, with reports indicating that Patrick encountered significant aggression and continues to receive personal threats online from those involved in smuggling operations.
Commentary on GB News highlighted how the investigation exposed organised criminals exploiting the asylum system whilst generating substantial profits from their illegal activities.
The presenter's work demonstrated that many individuals involved in these operations are aggressive young men engaged in criminal enterprises, rather than vulnerable asylum seekers.
Public reaction to such revelations has been intense, with communities across Britain expressing mounting frustration about illegal migration and its impact on local areas.
The investigation underscored growing concerns about what some describe as a "tinderbox" situation, with tensions rising between those protesting against illegal migration and authorities attempting to manage the crisis.