Thousands of migrants are camped out in Calais and in Boulogne-sur-Mer living in the vain hope that one day they might make it across the England Channel. Their desperation familiarly exploited by people smugglers.
It appears the smugglers are finding new ways of exploiting human suffering in a struggling economy with unemployed people in France becoming part-time people smugglers themselves.
Struggling business owners and students in northern parts of France have become next in line to be lured in by the criminals to make some extra cash by hiding migrants in their cars.
The people smugglers, who are often from Asia or Albania used to target truck drivers but now it's the local French people living near the port of Calais who are in need of cash and have a car or van they can use as a smuggling wagon to help pay the bills.
According to the authorities in northern France, smugglers tempt the unemployed locals with up to 2,000 euros per person whom they illegally ferry across to the UK.
French Police stand by as illegal migrants pile into UK bound lorries at Calais some EU partnership that is!!
— John (@dunstablian) May 21, 2015
Local lawyer, Emmanuelle Osmont, who is based in Boulongne-sur-Mer told reporters:
"In the past the traffickers, who are often from Asia or Albania, recruited people around them to do these journeys, but the risks became too great. Then they turned to the truck drivers, but now it's local French people who are suffering from financial difficulties.
"We have even had two or three students up before the courts and they are targeting local business people who may be struggling to pay their bills or their taxes, because of the ongoing economic crisis. The mafia is benefiting from that."
According to one of Osmont's clients, who wished to remain anonymous, he was convinced to pursue the role of illegally transporting migrants into Britain after ending up nearly bankrupt. Then a people smuggler waved a wad of cash in his face.
"I was offered €2,000 per person. At first I hesitated but I needed the money and said yes. It's a trap. Once you are in, it's very difficult to get out. The recruiters are there all the time, every day, they put pressure on us."
Osmont's client made his first trip to England with a group of migrants packed into his van. The second time he attempeted to smuggle the migrants across the Channel for money — he was arrested by British police.
Migrants clash in Calais while our Govt uses HMS Bulwark to help IS traffic more ppl across the Mediterranean. @RedHotSquirrel
— Alex Powell (@PowellPolitics) May 21, 2015
Last year Natacha Bouchart, the mayor of Calais made headlines in Britain after telling MPs that migrants in France see the UK as a "soft touch" and the benefits system as a "magnet".
Bouchart told a committee of MPs that the fences placed around UK border controls in the city "make everybody laugh."
"These people are ready and prepared to die to come to England."
In response, Prime Minister David Cameron called for "action right across the board" and "full-hearted cooperation between the British and French authorities to make sure we can stop people getting on to trains, getting on to container lorries or other vehicles and coming across the Channel."
However, the focus for the rest of Europe remains on the crisis in the Mediterranean where thousands of migrants risk their lives, often drowning trying to travel from Libya to Europe on boats put together by people smugglers, where every place on board comes at a price — their life.
Meanwhile, France and Britain have both taken a hard line stance in response to the European migrant crisis in the Mediterranean and have rejected proposals by Brussels to adopt a quota system for rescued asylum seekers.
It appears the problem may be growing for the French and British authorities on both sides of the Channel.
