SMALL boat gangs are luring Iranians fleeing war with special crossing ads.
The smugglers’ slick, travel agency-style approach is revealed in clips we unearthed on .
Smugglers are using a slick, travel agency-style approach to lure Iranians into crossing the Channel Credit: Tiktok
The Channel Hope account began posting less than three weeks after war began Credit: Tiktok
One uses images of Winston Churchill’s statue and Tower Bridge alongside the catchphrase “Habibi (my love), come to London”.
A female voiceover adds: “Welcome to London. Discover the iconic skyline, the bustling streets, and vibrant energy that never stops.”
Others show migrant camps in , with captions encouraging asylum seekers to text a number to book a dinghy.
The Channel Hope account began posting on March 18 — less than three weeks after war began.
Small boat gangs are luring Iranians fleeing war Credit: AP
Iranians account for 35,000 of the 200,000 small boat arrivals since 2018 Credit: PA
The account has made 22 posts specifically targeting Iranian customers.
Its “payment is deferred” offer is a common arrangement where the cost of a crossing, typically £2,000, is paid after arrival.
Boat arrivals often end up in illegal work or slave jobs including drug-running.
Iranians account for 35,000 of the s since 2018. Just 108 were returned, mainly because was unsafe.
Former Tory minister Sir Alec Shelbrooke said: “This evidence is exactly the sort of thing you have to be aware of, so when Iranians come across, you say, ‘No, you can’t seek asylum’.”
The said: “Every individual arriving illegally faces stringent checks. If identified as a threat, authorities will take the necessary action, including removing them swiftly.”
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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