A HUNDRED of migrants overpowered French police yesterday morning to storm the beach and get to a “taxi boat” service – which took them to the UK.
The Sun was on hand to witness scenes where hapless gendarmes fired tear gas in a desperate and ultimately unsuccessful attempt to stop them.
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An army of migrants overpowered French police to storm the beach and reach a ‘taxi boat’ service Credit: Louis Wood
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French police officers pierce a smuggler’s boat with a knife Credit: AFP
Even when a team of eight policemen managed to flag down the first boat that arrived to pick up the crowd of mostly young men, the second boat arrived 15 minutes later.
The migrants – mostly from Vietnam and Sudan – then boarded another aircraft and waved mockingly at police officers as they began their six-hour journey to England.
It was clear that the French authorities could not cope with the huge number of ships that insiders say smugglers run like a “taxi service” to Kent.
A French police source told us: “It’s an impossible task — there are too many ships now. It’s like playing whack-a-mole. You stop one ship and then another comes.”
Our reporting team saw migrants hiding in the sand dunes at Gravelines, about ten miles from Calais, waiting for the first boat.
As soon as the ship approached the shore, the police immediately gave chase in two high-speed carts, firing tear gas as they approached.
A middle-aged lady shouted as she struggled to board the dinghy, which was squirming under the enormous weight of its human cargo.
The men were thrown into the sea by people smugglers who recognized that they were slowing them down.
Amidst the panic, the waves brought the boat close to the shore, where a policeman managed to deflate it by stabbing the rubber hull with a knife.
In the commotion, men temporarily blinded by the gas tried to wash their faces in the sea, while others fell to the ground in coughing fits.
The latest horrific tragedy in the canal vividly demonstrates the urgent need to stop small boats in order to save lives
A teenager from Sudan did not get up after washing himself on the beach.
His friend begged for an ambulance.
He claimed that he had been stabbed by a thief the night before in the camp.
The violence is widespread in “The Jungle” – a slum of 1,000 people a 15-minute drive away, where most migrants live before trying to cross the channel.
The police officer told us how two people smugglers were fighting for their lives after being shot in the night during a shootout around the territory.
He said: “There was disagreement between groups fighting for control. We have witnesses from Kurdistan who saw it unfold.”
Such is hell for many migrants, they are ready to risk their lives crossing over to Britain.
A sign on the beach informed us that Dartford, Kent, was 143 km away.
Cat and mouse
Officers were pictured laughing after succeeding in their first attempt yesterday morning – but the illegals had the last laugh after they quickly regrouped and left for a new spot on the beach.
A game of cat and mouse ensued, before the group of a dozen men and a few women took a break for another boat on shore.
Despite the efforts of the police with tear gas, this time the police were unable to stop the migrants, who boarded the vessel and headed for England.
About five traffickers, suspected to be from Kurdistan and Iraq, organized boarding and leisurely made their way back to the dunes.
Some of the Vietnamese passengers said they paid £10,000 each to get “VIP service” from the men.
But some gatecrashers from Africa told us they didn’t pay anything.
The police only observed, without arresting them.
Discarded items including trainers, bags and life jackets lay strewn across the beach, commonly used by dog walkers, tourists and active holidaymakers.
It all happens just days after the failed trip in Wimereux, which led to the death of five migrants, including a seven-year-old girl.
The Sun revealed that she was on an overcrowded dinghy with her older brother, sister and parents on Tuesday when the tragedy happened a few hundred meters out to sea.
Police said about 50 of the 112 people on board fell into the sea, with some trapped under the ship’s hull.
It was the last in a series of attempts by a Kuwaiti family to reach Britain by small boat.
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Despite the efforts of the police with tear gas, this time the officers failed to stop the migrants Credit: Louis Wood
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Migrants leave Gravelines beach in France and head towards Dover Credit: Louis Wood
They are believed to be part of a larger Kuwaiti group that has been in northern France since before Christmas.
Previous attempts to enter the UK illegally have been aborted due to bad weather and a lack of space on board.
Two 22-year-old men have been charged with immigration offenses as part of an investigation into the deaths of migrants, the National Crime Agency has announced.
There is an ideal two-mile stretch of beach for migrants trying to evade the police.
‘Taxi service’
And smugglers are using a new “taxi service” where they send a boat down the coast to pick up groups of passengers, instead of ordering them to carry dinghies from the beach to the sea.
It allows migrants to run much faster and surprise the authorities.
Police used high-speed vehicles and drones yesterday, but in the end it seemed powerless.
A French Navy warship was seen in the distance, but did not respond to the ship as it departed.
Migrants traveled only in the early hours of the morning.
But here they became so insolent that they continued till about 9 am.
Avoiding the police, these migrants board often unsuitable boats at great expense and risk their lives
Marco Longhi
The policeman told us that the people smugglers were so confident that they would be able to reach Britain that they even started leaving in the afternoon.
He said: “Migrants are now ready to travel at any time of the day, depending on the weather.
“They live in Dunkirk and Calais and come to Gravelines the night before and sleep in the forest. They are always excited to go.
“On Tuesday afternoon, they entered the canal by boat and exited the canal.”
Locals informed us that migrants are hiding in the nearby dunes. When we visited it, we found tarps, ropes and oil drums.
Tory Marco Longhi said last night: “French President Emmanuel Macron needs to get a grip on his beach patrol officers and do more to stop boats.
“By avoiding the police, these migrants board often unseaworthy ships at great expense and risk their lives.”
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The two mile long beach is perfect for migrants trying to avoid the policeCredit: Louis Wood
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Broken Migrant Ship Credit: Louis Wood
Categories: Optical Illusion
Source: newstars.edu.vn