Scot Pioneer: Skipper of UK Cargo Ship Reports “Illegal Trafficking” of Migrants to Dover by French Navy

The captain of the British cargo ship Scot Pioneer has raised allegations against the French navy, asserting their involvement in what he deems as ‘illegally trafficking immigrant boats’ across the Channel to Dover.

In a series of radio exchanges, as reported by the Daily Mail, the captain expressed frustration to the French coastguard when his vessel, Scot Pioneer, was obstructed from entering Dunkirk harbour, citing instances where navy vessels, including a warship, steered migrant boats around his ship.

Upon lodging his complaint, the coastguard responded by informing him of an ‘arrangement’ purportedly established between the governments of London and Paris, allowing the French navy to escort migrant boats towards Britain.

The captain initiated his protest by contacting the French coastguard, stating: ‘I would like to report what is an illegal operation in your waters.

“This morning we witnessed a French government vessel and a French navy warship escort a boat-load of illegal immigrants across the Channel to the midway point where they handed them over to another [Border Force] ship out of Dover. It has now arrived there.’

Continuing his account, the captain reported ongoing activities, stating, ‘Now I have the French warship passing under my stern, passing another boat-load of immigrants across the Channel.

“There is also another [French] vessel to the west of us which is escorting a third boat of migrants. This is not search and rescue – this is illegal trafficking of humans.”

A fisherman operating in British waters, who intercepted the open-channel transmissions, conveyed similar observations, affirming that the captain had directly witnessed the French navy guiding dinghies towards awaiting British Border Force vessels.

According to reports, a record-breaking 5,000 individuals aboard 100 small boats arrived in the UK from France within the first quarter of the year.

In response to inquiries, a Government spokesman addressed the situation, stating: ‘The unacceptable number of people who continue to cross the Channel demonstrates exactly why we must get the flights to Rwanda off the ground as soon as possible.

“We work with France in the English Channel to ensure people are recovered as safely as possible. Our successful work together helped to cut arrivals by more than a third last year.’

Employees at Scotline, the company owning the Pioneer Scot, declined to disclose the identity of the captain involved.

Main Image: VessselFinder

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Read also: UK government “clearly encouraging illegal immigration,” argues Gary Cartwright

Barely a day goes by without Rishi Sunak’s UK government announcing yet another foolproof means of halting the tide of small boats bearing the homeless, tempest-tossed to Dover, yearning to be free whilst perched upon the decks of UK Border Force patrol boats sent into French waters with the express purpose of collecting them from the grateful Gauls.