French police arrested six private-hire taxi drivers on September 7 accused of ferrying migrants from Lille to coastal launch sites for crossings to the UK, allegedly charging €300 per trip and cramming up to eight people into cars. Authorities say each driver made 13–32 journeys this summer; they face charges including aiding unauthorised residence and money laundering and are banned from driving until a one-day trial on November 12. Officials warn smugglers have shifted to longer, riskier Channel routes using "taxi boats" and mega-dinghies, and maritime incidents around Dieppe have risen sharply in 2026.
Six French Taxi Drivers Arrested Over Alleged Scheme to Ferry Migrants to Coastal Launch Sites
Migrants aboard a taxi boat in an attempt to cross the English Channel off the beach of Merville-Franceville-Plage, northwestern France - Getty Images/Guillaume Saligot
French authorities have arrested six private-hire taxi drivers accused of repeatedly transporting migrants from hideouts in Lille to coastal launch points so they could board large dinghies bound for the UK. Prosecutors say the drivers charged about €300 per trip and sometimes packed as many as eight people into their vehicles.
What Happened
Police allege each driver made between 13 and 32 journeys to the coast over the summer. The suspects were arrested simultaneously at their homes on September 7 and have been placed under judicial supervision. They are banned from driving taxis pending a one-day trial scheduled for November 12.
Charges and Evidence
The drivers face charges including aiding unauthorised residence and money laundering. Authorities say searches of their homes uncovered significant sums of cash and that the income was not declared. Prosecutors also cite the cramped and unsafe conditions in which migrants were transported as an aggravating factor.
Wider Context: Routes, Vessels and Risks
Investigators report a shift in smuggling tactics. With increased patrols around traditional launch sites near Calais and Dunkirk, migrants and organised smuggling networks have begun using private taxis to travel further along the coast to ports such as Dieppe and Cherbourg, or to reach pick-up points near Belgium.
Migrants intending to board a dinghy into the English Channel walked away from the beach after being confronted by British anti-migrant activists in Gravelines - Getty Images/Carl Court
Police describe growing use of so-called "taxi boats" and mega-dinghies that gather passengers at multiple coastal pick-up points before attempting crossings at narrower parts of the Channel. Some of these makeshift vessels have reportedly carried between about 100 and 230 people on single voyages.
Recent Incidents
In recent weeks, at least two dinghies launched from beaches near Cherbourg and aimed for the south coast of England. One vessel carrying around 140 migrants landed at Portsmouth and was met by roughly 200 protesters as authorities prepared to transfer people to the Manston processing centre near Dover. On another occasion, a dinghy with 51 people took about 38 hours before being rescued by RNLI lifeboats and Border Force and brought to Gosport; officials then moved the group by sea to Dover to avoid local unrest.
Authorities' Response
Officials say the shift to longer, riskier crossings reflects both the partial success of multinational efforts to disrupt smuggling supplies and the smugglers' ability to adapt. As part of security operations tied to a new UK-French cooperation deal, France deployed an additional 43 police and gendarmes to Normandy, and Dieppe town hall assigned 10 local officers this summer.
Trends And Safety Concerns
Authorities reported that attempted departures from Dieppe rose from 11 in 2024 to 31 in 2025, with 14 attempts recorded in the first half of 2026. By September 15, officials detected 56 maritime incidents in the area this year compared with 31 in all of 2025, mostly concentrated around Dieppe. The Seine-Maritime prefecture warned that crossings in makeshift vessels are particularly dangerous and have already caused multiple deaths in the Channel.
"It is important that the State is taking this seriously," said Véronique Depreux, mayor of Sainte-Marguerite-sur-Mer, describing the new departures and temporary camps seen along the shore.
Help us improve.
