Four Syrian nationals have been detained in Germany after coordinated raids aimed at a criminal network that supplies boats and equipment for crossings of the English Channel.
Police in North Rhine‑Westphalia seized inflatable boats, an engine, petrol cans, life jackets and boxes of tyre inner tubes during Wednesday’s early‑morning searches.
The action follows a joint probe led by the UK’s National Crime Agency and the Belgian Federal Police, with support from German, French and Dutch authorities, plus Europol and Eurojust.
Investigators say the inquiry began in March 2025 after intelligence revealed a suspicious shipment of tyre inner tubes being sent to Italy.
Those tubes are commonly used by smugglers instead of proper lifejackets.
Authorities found the tubes had been moved to storage sites in Germany to be combined with boats, pumps and engines into ready‑to‑launch “go kits.” Each kit is worth more than €10,000 on the black market and would be shipped to the French coast for a fee.
Between April and December 2025 teams intercepted multiple deliveries: seven vehicle stops in Belgium, five in France, and further seizures in Germany and the Netherlands.
In total 21 people have been arrested across the investigation so far.
More than 450 officers took part in Wednesday’s raids at 12 locations in North Rhine‑Westphalia, including Essen, Gelsenkirchen, Marl, Bottrop, Herdecke and Lüdenscheid.
Two addresses in Belgium were also searched.
Prosecutors say the suspects will face extradition to Belgium to answer charges of people smuggling and participating in an organised crime group.
Items recovered so far include 11 boats, one engine, life vests, inner tubes, weapons, gold bars, more than 30 electronic devices and nearly €60,000 in cash.
Searches are continuing.
Officials estimate the confiscated kits could have enabled roughly 1,000 crossings to the UK, with each successful convoy potentially netting gangs around €100,000.
UK investigators said the operation has disrupted a major supply chain that puts migrants’ lives at risk by using overcrowded, underpowered vessels in busy shipping lanes.
The Belgian prosecutor noted the arrests were made in Germany at Belgium’s request, meaning recent German legislation aimed at curbing smuggling – passed in December – does not apply to these detentions.
The crackdown comes amid renewed political focus on Channel crossings.
Since 2020 more than 100,000 people have entered the UK by small boat.
Government figures show 41,262 crossings last year, and 3,409 between 1 January and 9 March 2026.
Home Office minister Alex Norris welcomed the cross‑border effort, saying targeting supply networks before boats reach the water is a key way to disrupt smugglers.
Authorities stress that continued international cooperation will be vital as the inquiry progresses.
