UK government officials express satisfaction as Germany approves new laws imposing 10-year prison sentences on individuals involved in small boat smuggling. The updated legislation targets those storing small boats and engines, marking a significant shift in enforcement. This move addresses a loophole post-Brexit, enabling German authorities to combat human traffickers facilitating migrant journeys to the UK.
Scheduled to take effect by year-end, the law also enhances information exchange between both countries, following extensive negotiations. The legal adjustment aims to resolve a complex issue affecting the UK due to Brexit implications. Notably, under German law, aiding people smuggling to the UK was not punishable since the UK is deemed a third country post-EU exit. Criminal networks are known to stash engines in Germany before transferring them for perilous Channel crossings in northern France.
Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper emphasized the necessity of cross-border collaboration to combat transnational criminal networks. She praised the German government for the law change, underscoring joint efforts to combat illegal migration and organized crime. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood echoed this sentiment, highlighting the partnership with Germany to dismantle illegal migration networks and enhance border control measures.
In a landmark agreement, in July, Keir Starmer and Chancellor Friedrich Merz signed the Kensington Treaty, outlining bilateral cooperation on various issues, including irregular migration. Recent successes include the arrest of a suspected senior member of a smuggling ring from Syria in Manchester, following a joint UK-German operation. The National Crime Agency’s Director of Intelligence, Adrian Matthews, commended Germany’s legislative update, citing its role in bolstering efforts against small boat threats and disrupting organized crime networks operating from Europe.