Author: THOMAS MACKIE
EIGHT suspected migrants have been intercepted in a dinghy trying to cross the Channel by French authorities as the number of attempts to reach the UK surges to 114 in November alone.
Helicopters and coastal patrols in Dover were alerted by French authorities at about 2am. The RNLI joined the Coastguard to search for more than two hours for the men. They were eventually found at 4.20am by fishermen 11 miles off Sangatte, in northern France.
Translators had to be brought in to get more information on their location.
All eight suspected migrants had hypothermia and one appeared to be wrapped in cling film, trying to escape the cold.
Prefecture Maritime de la Manche said in a statement they were taken to Boulogne, a city on the north coast of France, where they were looked after by firefighters and police.
The RNLI said its Dover crew went out to help the French coastguard with the operation.
This latest interception of people trying to enter the UK illegally is the 114th in November alone.
The recent surge in attempts to cross the Channel is being blamed on organised crime in France.
On Saturday, five suspected migrants were picked up by the French authorities just off northern France.
On Friday, eight men were intercepted in a dinghy just off the coast of Dover.
And on Thursday, 13 men and one woman were stopped just off the coast of Dover in two dinghies.
UK authorities have warned about the dangers of taking small boats on the Dover to Calais route, which is the world’s busiest shipping lane.
Source: https://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/1050225/migrant-dover-channel-uk-france-border-force-RNLI
