A luxury yacht was reportedly used by suspected Albanian smugglers to secretly transport migrants to the United Kingdom, British media outlets report.
The vessel is believed to have departed from Brest, France, and was intercepted in the English Channel en route to Newquay, on the UK’s South Coast.
This incident comes as criminal gangs adapt to avoid detection, especially following the implementation of a fast-track deportation agreement that led to a sharp drop in the number of Albanian migrants arriving in small boats.
When Border Force officers boarded the yacht, they found 20 hidden passengers, all believed to be Albanian nationals. Among them were 19 men and one woman, all of whom were detained pending removal from the UK, according to a spokesperson from the Home Office.
Bledar Bega, aged 44, has been charged with facilitating illegal entry into the country. He is currently in custody and is scheduled to appear at Truro Crown Court on May 13.
Additionally, Florjand Lika (30) and Romeo Zani (32) have been charged with breaching deportation orders. Both men pleaded guilty at Bodmin Magistrates’ Court on April 15 and were remanded in custody ahead of their sentencing next month at Truro Crown Court.
The yacht in question appears to be a Beneteau Oceanis Clipper 343, described online as a family sailing yacht. Used models of this type are currently sold online for £50,000–£80,000. The vessel includes two cabins, six berths, and a single bathroom.
