Britain’s Immigration Minister Caroline Nokes has said that a spike in illegal aliens crossing the Channel by boat was “deeply concerning”, after dozens of people were rescued overnight.
British border officials found 23 Iranians in three locations in Kent on England’s southeast coast early Thursday, hours after French maritime authorities intercepted 11 migrants in a small boat near Sangatte.
“The number of incidents over recent days is deeply concerning,” said Nokes.
“Some of this is clearly facilitated by organised crime groups while other attempts appear to be opportunistic.”
Nine Iranians, including three children, were the first to be found early Thursday on a beach near the Kent port town of Folkstone, after sailing from northern France in a 13-foot (four-metre) inflatable boat.
Matt Crittenden, of the Littlestone-on-Sea lifeboat station, told AFP its search and rescue helicopter had spotted them and alerted police.
“We realised they were safe
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