A former British soldier turned people smuggler has shared startling revelations with the BBC regarding his operations that transported dozens of Vietnamese migrants via yacht into private marinas along the south-east coast of England. Although he was convicted and imprisoned in 2019, the smuggling methods he employed remain worryingly active, as highlighted by authorities at the Border Force, who describe this ongoing issue as a significant risk to national security.
One harbor master from the Essex coast remarked that private marinas offer no more security than a typical caravan site, indicating the vulnerability of these locations to people smuggling. Another harbor master echoed this sentiment, stating that there are minimal measures in place to prevent smuggling activities from occurring. According to the ex-soldier, known as Nick, the ease of smuggling migrants by yacht or ferry is alarmingly low-risk.
Nick disclosed his methods for smuggling not only Vietnamese migrants but also Albanian individuals by car onto ferries. He recounted how migrants would leap into lorries parked on the vehicle decks during the journey across the English Channel. He emphasized the simplicity of these operations, expressing frustration that he served time for a crime that continues unabated. Claiming knowledge of individuals still using his routes, Nick argued that convicting him was futile without improved security measures to deter other smugglers.
The Border Force is tasked with securing the vast 11,000 miles of UK coastline, but the responsibility for harbor security lies with private operators. Charlie Eastaugh, the director of maritime for Border Force, stated that their agency patrols the waters around the clock and conducts both proactive and reactive operations. Recently, a luxury yacht was intercepted while carrying 20 Albanian migrants, underscoring the ongoing challenges faced by authorities.
Unlike many migrants who undertake perilous crossings in small boats seeking asylum, most of the individuals transported by Nick aimed to remain undetected and enter the black economy. He noted that many Vietnamese migrants were expected to work on cannabis farms upon arrival. Nick's involvement as a skipper is also notable, as it deviates from typical smuggling operations where the smuggler does not accompany the migrants.
Nick's journey into people smuggling began in 2009 when an Albanian acquaintance, referred to as Matt, enlisted his help, believing that Nick's British passport would shield them from suspicion. Struggling financially as a self-employed builder, Nick accepted the offer of £3,500 for each migrant he smuggled. Initially, he concealed migrants in his car's boot, primarily Albanian men without work rights in the UK.
On ferries, Nick would carefully select a lorry for the migrants to board, ensuring a member of his smuggling gang on land could easily spot it. He instructed the migrants to climb onto the lorry and provided them with a knife to facilitate entry. Nick's escape from capture was largely due to a friend's inadvertent alert to French authorities, leading to his arrest and subsequent prison time in France.
After serving five months, Nick reunited with Matt, and they resumed smuggling operations, this time focusing on Vietnamese migrants arriving by yacht at Ramsgate Marina. Coordinated by a contact named Lin, a Vietnamese woman with a history of drug offenses, Nick and Matt received £12,000 for each migrant smuggled. Nick's familiarity with the marina's layout allowed him to blend in, as he was a registered member.
Nick's assertions about the lax security at private marinas were corroborated by anonymous harbor masters, who likened conditions to those at a caravan site. During peak season, the influx of visitors further complicates the ability to monitor suspicious activities. Thanet District Council, responsible for Ramsgate Marina, indicated that while they remain vigilant, individual harbors cannot be expected to have continuous monitoring without assistance from Border Force.
Former Border Force chief Tony Smith expressed concerns that the agency's resources are primarily allocated to the Small Boats Operational Command, which focuses on specific routes. He emphasized the importance of intelligence gathering through conversations with individuals like Nick to preemptively identify and address threats across the UK coastline.
As of 2025, over 12,500 migrants have crossed the English Channel in small boats, with a record number of fatalities in 2024. This contrasts sharply with Nick's operations, where his migrants sought anonymity rather than asylum. The clandestine nature of his smuggling endeavors, along with the intricate planning around tides and weather, allowed him to operate undetected for an extended period.
In retrospect, Nick expressed regret for his involvement in the people smuggling trade, acknowledging his self-destructive tendencies. He was recently recalled to prison for violating his license terms, while Matt and Lin have resumed their lives outside of incarceration. Nick's narrative serves as a disturbing reminder of the ongoing challenges surrounding irregular migration and people smuggling in the UK.
