Major change to small boats clampdown to deal with smugglers like Russian oligarchs

David Lammy will today(THUR) unveil new plans to seize millions of pounds from smuggling gangs.

The Foreign Secretary says the UK will be the first country in the world to set up a standalone sanctions regime to target organised migration crime. People and companies strongly suspected of being involved in people trafficking will have their UK assets frozen.

The new regime will be similar to that used against Russian oligarchs following the invasion of Ukraine. Keir Starmer said the Government will “leave no stone unturned” in efforts to stop small boat crossings.

Once a sanctioned person or group has been named, anyone in the UK found to be working with them will also face action. The Government hopes to have the new system in place by the end of the year.

The PM said: “We must dismantle the crime gangs facilitating breaches of our borders. By crippling illicit finance rings allowing smugglers to traffic vulnerable people across Europe, we will deliver on our Plan for Change and secure UK borders. That means being bold and innovative in our policy making to ensure we are leaving no stone unturned.”

Mr Lammy will tell Foreign Office staff that tackling irregular migration will be one of their key priorities.

He said: “It is completely unrealistic to combat irregular migration without a role for the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. It is an issue which ties together the foreign and the domestic most acutely.

“I’m proud to announce that the UK is set to be the first country in the world to develop legislation for a new sanctions regime specifically targeting irregular migration and organized immigration crime.”

Sanctions are seen as one of several measures that can tackle small boat crossings.

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said: “With these new sanctions, we will target those profiting off putting lives at risk and disrupt the gangs’ finances, making it harder for them to operate. “