Officers from the Westkust Local Police Service detained 8 people smugglers and 7 transmigrants on Monday night. The people smugglers are members of various criminal gangs than were in several cars driving on the roads in Nieuwpoort, Koksijde and Oostduinkerke. Now the weather is improving warmer the police expect more transmigrants to attempt to cross the channel to the UK in small boats. The Westkust Local Police Service has requested reinforcements from the Federal Police Service.
On Monday night police intercepted 2 French-registered cars with 2 people smugglers and 12 transmigrants on board in Nieuwpoort. The transmigrants fled towards Middelkerke, but the 2 people smugglers were detained.
A few kilometres away on the Koninklijke Baan in Koksijde police stopped 2 other French-registered cars. 3 people and 7 transmigrants were detained.
A little later, police intercepted a Polish-registered van in Oostduinkerke. A boat, an outboard motor and petrol were found in the van. Behind the wheel of the vehicle was a people muggle for whom a wanted notice had been issued to police in the Schengen Zone. He has been arrested.
In the police intercepted another car, this time registered in Germany. 2 Iraqi people smugglers were arrested.
Small boats
During Monday night police detained a total of 8 people smugglers and 7 transmigrants. It was likely that they were on their way to beaches in De Panne and Koksijde from where the transmigrants would attempt cross the Channel in small boats to the UK.
Since the beginning of the year the West Coast Local Police Service has prevent at least 6 such illegal crossing from occurring. Now the weather is improving they expert more transmigrants to attempt to cross to the UK in small boats. The Westkust Local Police Service has asked for assistance from the Federal Police.