Britain threatens jail for people smugglers who advertise on social media
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People who post online to advertise services that facilitate a breach of British immigration laws could face fines and prison sentences of up to five years.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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LONDON – People smugglers who use social media to promote their services to migrants seeking to enter Britain illegally could face five years in prison under plans announced by the government.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s Labour government is under huge political and public pressure to cut the number of migrants arriving illegally in small boats from France. More than 25,000 people have made the crossing so far in 2025.
Analysis by the British interior ministry showed around 80 per cent of migrants arriving on small boats had used social media during their journey to find or communicate with people smugglers.
Under a new offence, which will be added to legislation already passing through Parliament, individuals who post online to advertise services that facilitate a breach of immigration laws will face fines and prison sentences of up to five years.
It is already an offence to facilitate illegal immigration to Britain, but the British government said its latest plan would give law enforcement agencies another option to disrupt the criminal gangs that profit from organising the crossings.
In July, the British government launched a new sanctions regime
