25 inflatable boats seized at East Midlands Airport
Border Force and the National Crime Agency confiscated 25 nine‑metre inflatable boats that could carry up to 1,700 migrants after they arrived in an air‑freight pallet from Turkey to the Netherlands.
Seizure details
Border Force and the National Crime Agency seized 25 inflatable boats at East Midlands Airport on 2 October 2026. Each boat measured around nine metres in length and could carry about 70 people across the Channel, giving the consignment a total capacity of up to 1,700 illegal immigrants.
Shipment origin
The pallets containing the boats were part of an air‑freight shipment that originated in Turkey and was destined for the Netherlands.
Previous seizure
In July 2026, a maritime consignment at the port of Felixstowe in Suffolk was seized, comprising 25 boats and 25 engines.
Official comment
Craig Turner, NCA deputy director of investigations, said the seizure is part of a broader effort to disrupt smuggling networks.