Eight migrants die attempting to cross Channel in small boat, hours after plans for ‘mafia’ operation revealed

EIGHT migrants have died attempting to cross the Channel, hours after plans for a mafia-style crackdown emerged.

The asylum seekers drowned last night off the coast between the French ports of Calais and Boulougne.

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French emergency services received a distress signal early this morning from a rowing boat that was in difficulty.

According to local official Jacques Billant, “several migrants have been killed in the tragedy”, bringing the provisional death toll to eight.

It came just two weeks after 12 people, including six children and a pregnant woman, died when another small boat sank in the Channel.

Yesterday it was announced that Sir Keir Starmer wants to use Italy’s success in combating the mafia as a blueprint for his approach to people smugglers.

The prime minister flies to Rome today and will hold crucial talks with Italian leader Giorgia Meloni over the small boat crisis.

He will use the summit to announce that he has appointed a boss to lead his new UK Border Security Command.

A Labour source said: “Our Border Security Command will tackle illegal financing, dismantle supply chains and tackle the criminal bosses who make millions from boat crossings.

“We know that Italy has had great success in tackling organised crime groups, including the mafia.

“And we want to learn from the work they have done at home and abroad so that we can tackle the horrific criminal smuggling ring plaguing our waters.”

Starmer said the following about the summit during his trip to the US: “I have already had an exploratory conversation with Giorgia Meloni about how we can work together to tackle illegal migration.

“She obviously has some strong ideas and I hope to discuss them with her.

“She and I have already discussed how we can improve joint operations, so that is something we will discuss.”

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