Chinese companies have been found to be openly selling “inflatable boats for refugees” online and advertising them directly to people smugglers.
Dozens of suppliers on Alibaba, a major Chinese e-commerce site, promote “high-quality refugee boats” with promises of fast shipping to Europe.
The vessels are believed to have been used by migrants making dangerous Channel crossings.
Over three months, English-language advertisements from seven suppliers selling “refugee boats” were tracked and found none were taken down during that period.
Small boat migrants making crossing across Channel
GETTY
The listings included specific keywords in headlines, such as major migrant destinations and transit countries including Italy, Germany, Turkey, Morocco and Libya.
Government data shows small boat arrivals to the UK increased by 25 per cent in 2024, with smugglers cramming more people onto vessels.
Salespeople for these companies spoke openly about their products when The Telegraph posed as a potential buyer.
One supplier, Weihai Yamar Outdoors Product Co, claimed they had many European customers for “refugee boats” and insisted the vessels were safe for sea use.
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Inflatable dinghies are being advertised on the site as ‘refugee boats’
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Inflatable dinghies advertised as “refugee boats” are available in various sizes, up to 12 metres in length costing $1,680 (£1,266).
Hubei Jinlong New Materials, another supplier, lists Europe as its main market, accounting for 25 per cent of its business.
“Nobody seems to be in fear of arrest or prosecution,” said Neville Blackwood, an international law enforcement specialist and former UK police officer.
“It’s business as usual on the Alibaba site.”
He warned these are “flimsy boats and engines that aren’t appropriate to set sail and, potentially, people could lose their lives.
“To advertise them is just wrong; it’s putting people’s lives at risk.”
Recovered small boats in Dover
PA
According to the Telegraph, the Home Office is aware of these adverts and has been in discussions with Chinese authorities about launching a crackdown.
Last December, the National Crime Agency began talks with Beijing about restricting the sale of dinghy engines to smugglers.
Chinese officials attended a border security summit in London last month, seen as a sign that the country is taking UK demands seriously.
International law enforcement cooperation could take months or years to progress, according to Blackwood.
Though the Channel is only about 20 miles wide at its narrowest point, it’s one of the world’s busiest shipping lanes, making crossings extremely dangerous.
The risk increases when boats are overloaded with migrants.
Latest migrant arrivals in Dover
PA
Authorities have found as many as 90 people crammed onto single vessels meant to hold far fewer passengers.
Last year marked the deadliest year on record for Channel crossings with at least 80 people dying, including a four-month-old infant, according to the UN’s migration agency.
A Home Office spokesman said: “We welcome this research from The Telegraph which highlights the complexity of disrupting global supply chains used by organised criminal networks.
“We have a strong intelligence picture and are aware of these supply chains.”
The National Crime Agency has seized more than 600 boats and engines in the last 18 months and taken down 18,000 posts advertising organised immigration crime services.
The Home Secretary recently announced £33million of additional funding for operations targeting supply chains and trafficking routes.
