Five migrants, including a child, died while attempting to cross the English Channel from France to Britain in an overcrowded small boat. The deaths occurred after Britain passed a bill to deport asylum seekers to Rwanda in an effort to discourage dangerous journeys.
At least five migrants died in a failed attempt to cross the English Channel near Wimereux. French coast guard confirmed the incident, with several ‘lifeless bodies’ found. The Channel is known for strong currents, making the crossing dangerous, especially on overloaded dinghies used by people smugglers.
Fact: People smugglers are advertising voyages to Cyprus on social media.
Summary: Interior Minister Constantinos Ioannou stated that people smugglers are using social media to advertise voyages to Cyprus. He also mentioned the increasing trend of smugglers setting sail from Lebanon and the challenges in preventing boats from entering Cypriot waters. Additionally, there have been difficulties in returning migrants to Lebanon and efforts to relocate migrants to other European Union member states.
Fact: The Famagusta district court issued an eight-day remand against four people suspected to be behind the arrival of 271 irregular migrants in Cyprus from Lebanon.
Two men, aged 28 and 19, were jailed for transporting 125 illegal immigrants by boat to the Famagusta area last November. The Famagusta district court sentenced the 28-year-old to two years and the 19-year-old to four years in prison for assisting illegal entry to the Republic, participating in a criminal organisation, and money laundering.
Two individuals, aged 28 and 20, were arrested at the Pournara migrant reception centre in Cyprus for posting a video on social media that announced the arrival of migrants. This act was intended to inform people smugglers and was in violation of the Immigration Law and personal data protection law. The arrests were made following the issuance of court warrants, and the suspects are under investigation for facilitating illegal entry, transit, and residence. They were taken to the Nicosia District Court, which issued an eight-day remand.
A 34-year-old man was sentenced to three years in prison for smuggling 34 people into Cyprus. He captained a nine-metre-long boat intercepted by police off the coast of Cape Greco with 47 people on board in July of the previous year. He was convicted of aiding the illegal entry of persons from a third country into the Republic, doing so for profit, and transporting a person by waterway in an unsafe vessel.