‘Threatening’ Groups Disrupt Belgian Efforts to Combat Migrant Channel Routes
21st May 2026
Belgian coastal police are urging urgent reinforcements as authorities struggle to contain a growing wave of UK-bound small boat crossings, which officials say are becoming increasingly dangerous and harder to intercept.
Police chiefs told a parliamentary committee that after several years of relative calm, Belgium’s coastline has seen a sharp rise in human trafficking activity, with smuggling networks shifting operations away from France due to tighter enforcement measures. As a result, departure points have increasingly moved toward Belgian coastal areas used for Channel crossings.
Local forces warn that the situation has become significantly more volatile. Officers report growing aggression during interventions, with some smuggling groups reportedly accompanied by individuals described by police as “violent ex-soldiers” from countries including Iraq and Afghanistan. Authorities say these individuals are being used to protect boats at launch sites and deter police from approaching.