The UK government has imposed sanctions on 24 individuals and one company accused of involvement in people-smuggling, as part of a broader effort to curb irregular migration across the

English Channel.

The sanctions aim to disrupt financial operations by freezing assets such as property and bank accounts. The move comes in response to a surge in migrant crossings, which have risen by nearly 50% in the first half of 2025—up to 20,000 people—compared to the same period last year.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who took office in 2024, had pledged to dismantle the criminal networks driving illegal migration. The new sanctions regime, originally announced in January, targets those supplying and financing small boats, producing fake documents, and using the informal Hawala payment network to move funds.

“From Europe to Asia, we are going after the people-smugglers who enable irregular migration—wherever they operate—and holding them accountable,” said Foreign Secretary David Lammy.

Among those named in the sanctions are seven individuals linked to Iraq accused of smuggling people, eight Balkan nationals involved in producing fake passports, and several figures based in Belgium and Serbia described by UK authorities as "gangland bosses."

Additionally, a Chinese company was sanctioned for promoting small boats online specifically for smuggling purposes.

The government says these measures are part of a coordinated international effort to dismantle the infrastructure that enables people-smuggling. Photo by ukhomeoffice, Wikimedia commons.