A government official has criticized smugglers for using social media to openly promote illegal small boat crossings to the UK by offering “jet boats.” Mike Tapp stated that the authorities are cracking down on trafficking networks, with harsh penalties of up to five years in prison for promoting such activities on platforms like TikTok. The National Crime Agency (NCA) removed over 10,000 posts and accounts related to this illicit trade last year.
According to the Home Office, approximately 80% of individuals arriving via small boats utilized social media to facilitate their journeys, prompting calls for tech companies to take action. Criminal organizations are flooding platforms with advertisements to attract migrants, as per investigators.
Minister for Migration and Citizenship, Mr. Tapp, emphasized the government’s efforts to combat these brazen people smugglers who are attempting to operate undetected on social media. He highlighted the NCA’s successful crackdown on thousands of accounts linked to smuggling and the impending implementation of a new law targeting those promoting dangerous Channel crossings online.
The upcoming legislation will make it a criminal offense to create content that encourages violations of immigration laws, including endorsing small boat journeys and offering fraudulent services like fake documents or illegal employment opportunities. The NCA recently announced the removal of 10,700 such adverts in 2025, which also included ads for sham marriages and bogus asylum claims.
Advertisements in various languages promised services like “jet boats” for UK transport and a “taxi service” on lorries, all aimed at facilitating illegal crossings. Mike Hulett, head of the NCA’s Online Communication Centre, emphasized the importance of disrupting criminal networks’ social media activities to gather intelligence and initiate investigations.
Efforts are ongoing to collaborate with social media platforms to remove illicit content, but there is a recognized need for further action to prevent these platforms from being misused for criminal purposes.