A small boat carrying 128 migrants crossed the English Channel on Friday, marking the highest number ever recorded for a single vessel. This crossing occurred as part of a larger group of 225 migrants who made the journey on three boats that day.
So far this year, over 12,000 individuals have reached the UK via small boats, representing a 44% decrease compared to the same timeframe last year. Officials noted that smuggling gangs are increasingly risking safety by overcrowding unseaworthy vessels.