France has intercepted a migrant dinghy in the water for the first time – sparking hopes Paris will finally stop more boats. French officers caught a so-called taxi boat on the Aa canal in Gravelines after admitting the smugglers’ tactics have been hugely successful. Official documents revealed 81% of taxi-boats were successful last year.

France vowed to start intercepting migrant smugglers after a surge in Channel crossings last year. But officers complained the water was too cold and that they lacked training. And a photograph – taken on Saturday – showed suspected people smugglers on an inflatable dinghy with police boat alongside.

The number of migrants who successfully crossed the Channel surged from 36,566 in 2024 to 41,472.

Almost 1,000 asylum seekers have already crossed this year, with some 275 picked up on four boats.

Under the terms of engagement, gendarmes will only intervene to stop “taxi-boats” before they take on migrants – and not when they are fully charged.

This seems to have been the procedure used in Saturday’s operation.