The UK government has announced plans to introduce new economic sanctions aimed at people smugglers, seeking to curb dangerous Channel crossings by migrants. The sanctions regime, the first of its kind in the world, will target individuals and organisations facilitating perilous journeys across the English Channel.
To be formally outlined in a speech by Foreign Secretary David Lammy, the initiative comes in response to rising numbers of boat arrivals, which reached 36,816 in 2024, a 25% increase from the previous year.
The sanctions are part of the UK government’s broader strategy to dismantle smuggling networks, with the legislation expected to come into effect later this year.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer emphasised the importance of “crippling illicit finance rings” to disrupt the operations of the organised gangs behind the smuggling operations. The government aims to tackle the financial flows that enable such criminal activities, in a bid to enhance border security and save lives.
