Smugglers are telling migrants all they have to do is “wave at Britain” to be rescued in the Channel as they lure people into crossing the busiest shipping lane in the world, The Telegraph has been told.

Gangs are increasingly competing with each other for business as authorities tackle small boats heading to Britain from France, and are resorting to giving false guarantees to persuade people that their operation is safe.

“One smuggler told me: ‘Once you cross over the water border to the English side, raise your arms and just wave at Britain for help’,” said Zafer, 45, a Turkish national trying to get to the UK. “‘Someone will come to rescue you’. That’s what he told me,” he added.

Zafer never made it to the UK. He was caught by Italian authorities in 2024 and rather than wait for his asylum claim to be processed in the European Union, he decided to return home to Turkey, save money and try again,

Smugglers are finding it more difficult to launch boats towards Britain as border enforcement has increased patrols. They are increasingly competing with each other to grab “business”, using methods revealed to an undercover Telegraph reporter who posed as an Afghan national looking for safe passage for his brother.

Smugglers are trying a number of tactics to convince migrants that their boat crossings, which they nickname “games” to imply a mix of risk and strategy, are the safest option.

This also includes charging higher prices than other smugglers, to suggest that the quality of their service is superior.