Belgian authorities have asked the UK to step up cooperation to tackle organized crime groups exploiting beaches along Belgium's North Sea coast to send migrants toward the UK. The number of attempted crossings from the Belgian coast has risen sharply in recent months. Activity is concentrated along Belgium's western coastline, with beaches in De Panne, Koksijde, Nieuwpoort, and Ostend becoming launch points for small boats heading towards Britain. Smugglers and migrants are being intercepted almost daily by police along the Belgian coast. Last month, a group of 22 migrants was recorded departing from Oostduinkerke beach. On Wednesday night, 15 migrants were discovered near Nieuwpoort marina carrying a rubber inflatable boat, an outdoor motor, and jerry cans of gasoline, with only four equipped with life jackets, indicating intent to cross to the UK.
Smugglers are using so-called 'taxi boats', which move along the shoreline picking up migrants before heading into the English Channel. The small number of recent launches off Belgium involved so-called 'taxi-boats', which pick up migrants in the sea before heading along the coast to France. Local police suggested the recent rise was because of increased pressure on smugglers in France. Smugglers have launched migrant small boats from beaches in Belgium away from the traditional sites around Calais and Dunkirk.
The Belgian Federal Police said it was stepping up patrols, both on land and at sea, as well as from the air with the deployment of the Frontex aircraft. Police recently told the BBC they were stepping up patrols following attempts by smugglers to target the Belgian coast, away from the main launch sites in France. Westkust Police told the BBC there were no crossings in their zone last year and at least five this year, adding that teams are now conducting targeted checks. Physical barriers have been installed to make it harder to access beaches with trailers and boats.
UK Minister for Border Security and Asylum Alex Norris held talks in Belgium on tackling people smuggling following recent attempts to launch small boats from Belgian beaches. In recent years, the UK government has assisted Belgian authorities with technology such as drones to help track smugglers along the coast. The Home Office said there have been investments of around £4m over the past two years, leading to the establishment of a control room in the Port of Zeebrugge. The UK government has provided £1.3m to Belgian law enforcement to deter smuggling attempts.
Boat launches from Belgium had previously been limited because the Channel crossing is longer from Belgium. Around 4,766 migrants have crossed the English Channel in small boats so far this year, a 28% decrease compared to the same period in 2025. Warmer weather has seen more people attempt to make the Channel crossing in recent days.
The effectiveness of increased patrols, Frontex surveillance, and physical barriers in preventing launches from Belgian beaches remains unclear. How many people-smuggling gangs are currently operating along the Belgian coast, and their specific structures or networks, is unknown.