Britain strikes breakthrough deal with Belgium to stop people smugglers launching migrant boats from its shores

BRITAIN has struck a deal with Belgium to stop people smugglers launching migrant boats from its shores. Belgian cops will join British and French officers going after the gangs sending dinghies across the Channel. Britain has struck a deal with Belgium to stop people smugglers Credit: PA cops will join British and French officers going after the gangs sending boats to Britain across the Channel Credit: Getty The deal will also let police on both sides swap vital intelligence faster. It comes after smugglers turned to Belgium to launch “taxi boats” which sail along the coast picking up migrants bound for Britain. Sign up for The Sun newsletter Thank you! Belgian cops spotted 32 suspected attempts between January and April – up from just two in the whole of last year. The pact is the first of its kind between Britain and an EU country since Brexit. READ MORE ON MIGRANT BOATS More than 50 suspected smugglers have already been arrested in joint UK-Belgian operations this year and more than 40 vehicles have been seized. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said: “The migrant smuggling trade doesn’t start and stop on the beaches of northern France. “These gangs operate across borders, so we’ll work with every international partner available to track them down, shut them down and bring them to justice.” The deal will also target gangs smuggling drugs and guns. Most read in The Sun Comment now