EXCLUSIVE: How Yachts Became a Gateway for Migrant Smuggling in the UK – Ex-Soldier Speaks Out

A former British soldier turned smuggler has revealed how he trafficked dozens of migrants into the UK using yachts and private marinas — exploiting gaps in coastal security that still exist today.

The man, who we’ll call Nick, was convicted in 2019 for his role in smuggling Vietnamese and Albanian migrants into the country. But in a BBC interview, he claims the routes and methods he used are still being employed — and barely monitored.

“There’s nothing stopping it. I could do it again tomorrow,” Nick said.

Easy In, Easy Out

Nick described how he sailed migrants across the English Channel under cover of night, docking at quiet, low-security marinas in towns like Ramsgate. Many of these ports, he said, had “no more security than a caravan site.”

Unlike migrants crossing in small boats to claim asylum, Nick’s passengers — mostly Vietnamese — didn’t want to be found. Many planned to disappear into the black market economy, often ending up in illegal cannabis farms.

“Most of them just wanted to vanish,” Nick explained. “They didn’t want to go through asylum. They just wanted to work, illegally.”

From Soldier to Smuggler

Nick’s journey into smuggling began in 2009. Struggling after the 2008 financial crash and expecting a child, he was approached by an Albanian acquaintance, Matt, with a tempting offer: £3,500 per person smuggled.

At first, Nick smuggled people in his car via ferry. Later, he began working on more elaborate operations — helping migrants stow away on lorries mid-journey, even using knives to cut their way into truck trailers while still onboard the ferry.

According to Nick, “It was easy. I wouldn’t have been caught if not for a friend who acted nervously.”

He was eventually arrested in France and served five months in prison. But after his release, Nick and Matt regrouped and shifted tactics — using yachts to evade detection.

The Marina Loophole

One of Nick’s major smuggling hubs was Ramsgate Marina in Kent. A lifelong sailor, Nick knew the area well and even held a membership there, making him appear trustworthy.

“It was the perfect setup. No one questioned me. Even Border Force boats were docked there — so I always knew if they were around.”

Private marinas became the weak link in UK border security, Nick claimed — a sentiment echoed by two anonymous harbourmasters interviewed by the BBC.

“In peak season, with the marina buzzing, you could hide just about anything,” one said.

Nick was eventually caught in 2018, when police — who had been surveilling him for months — intercepted him arriving with four Vietnamese men onboard. He was sentenced to eight years for conspiracy to facilitate illegal immigration.

The woman who paid him, a Vietnamese national known as Lin, received the same sentence. Matt pleaded guilty and got five years and four months.

A Broken System?

Despite his conviction, Nick says very little has changed. He claims he knows people who still use the same routes — exploiting marina access, night crossings, and lax security measures.

“I was just the guy who got caught. There are others doing the same thing today.”

Border Force Director of Maritime, Charlie Eastaugh, acknowledged that marinas are a vulnerability. While Border Force patrols 24/7 and responds to tips, security at private marinas falls under the control of individual operators — creating inconsistent enforcement.

“We can’t have a fixed presence at all 11,000 miles of UK coastline,” Eastaugh said. “But we rely on intel from the maritime community to target our resources.”

Former Border Force chief Tony Smith admitted the agency is stretched thin — with most of its focus now directed at small boat crossings, which have hit record highs in 2025.

“I’d prefer to see broader surveillance across the coastline,” Smith said, adding that Nick’s story could provide critical intelligence.

Hidden in Plain Sight

Nick said he would sail from Kent under cover of darkness, time his crossings with tides and weather, and collect migrants from near Dunkirk. Once back in the UK, the migrants would remain hidden in his cabin until collected by gang members after dark.

He managed to run this operation for 18 months before being caught — and claims marinas like Ramsgate are still being used by smugglers.

“People are going to hate me for saying this,” he said. “But they need to know — it’s still happening.”

Nick, who was recently recalled to prison for breaching parole, says he regrets parts of his past — but not everything.

“I think I was always on a path to self-destruction,” he said.

As for Matt and Lin? Both are now out of prison and living in the UK.