People advertising illegal smuggling routes into UK to face five-year prison sentences

Five-year prison sentences for those advertising illegal migration routes on social media are coming into force under new powers.

Changes as part of the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Act will be enforced from Monday.

Law enforcement will no longer have to prove online ads had led to crossings, as under the previous regulations, and will instead be able to prosecute proactively when they find postings.

Border security minister Alex Norris told the PA news agency his message to smugglers was: "We are coming for you."

Reducing the number of illegal Channel crossings is one of the key goals of the government, with Sir Keir Starmer claiming he had made progress on stopping Chinese-made boat engines reaching Europe while on a visit to Beijing last week.

The agreement will make it easier for law enforcement groups to share information with their Chinese counterparts, the government claimed.

Some 60% of the boats which crossed the Channel last year had motors made in China.

The National Crime Agency will deploy its Online Communications Centre to investigate thousands of social media accounts as part of the latest crackdown.

More than 10,000 accounts, pages and posts were shut down last year.

The Home Office shared examples of adverts for crossings, which appeared in English, French and Pashto.

"Social media ads promoting the corrupt promise of a life and work in the UK are truly sickening," Mr Norris told PA.

"To the people smugglers peddling this content, whether you are selling your vile trade online through 'golden package deals', supplying boat equipment or researching routes, we are coming after you.

"I will not stop until we've restored order and control to our borders."

Read more:
2025 second highest for small boats
Man jailed for supplying small boats and engines
Starmer makes deal with China on engines

So far this year, 933 people have crossed the Channel by small boat, with no one having made the trip since 20 January.

Last year was the second-highest year on record for crossings after 2022.

? Click here to listen to Electoral Dysfunction on your podcast app ?

The government has also announced agreements with several European nations to share intelligence on people smuggling in a bid to reduce illegal migration, in a tactic branded "smash the gangs" by Sir Keir.

A one-in, one-out exchange scheme with France is also being piloted, with illegally arriving migrants exchanged for asylum seekers.

(c) Sky News 2026: People advertising illegal smuggling routes into UK to face five-year prison sentences