Suspected people smugglers are using TikTok to advertise illegal entry into the UK via the English Channel, the BBC has found. Dozens of posts from multiple accounts show individuals carrying boats to the water, crossing the Channel, and arriving in the UK, with some claiming to guarantee safe passage for £5,000.
The videos, which could not be verified for authenticity, appear to show fierce competition between rival gangs, each boasting they are the 'best' operator for successful crossings. Posts also mock the government's policy to deport some migrants to Rwanda, stating 'Rwanda has been cancelled'.
More than 18,000 migrants have crossed the Channel in small boats so far this year, with almost 700 arriving on a single day last week. On Tuesday, 386 migrants in eight boats were detected. A number of migrants have been killed attempting the crossing, including at least 27 in November.
A Home Office spokesman said posts promoting 'lethal crossings' are unacceptable and called on social media companies to prevent their platforms being exploited. TikTok stated the content 'has no place' on the platform and said it has permanently banned the accounts, working with UK law enforcement to combat organised immigration crime online.
However, the BBC has seen fresh videos posted weekly, suggesting suspected gangs may be setting up new accounts immediately after being banned. The Home Office has launched its own social media campaign to warn people of the risks of these journeys and expose the 'lies sold by inhumane smugglers'.
