“Criminal gangs, who are also people traffickers, decide which people end up in northern France and are about to board a dinghy, rather than the UK government.”

Shabana MahmoodNews reportOctober 4, 2026Read the original

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood made this statement during an interview with The Guardian on 4 October 2026.

Our verdict

Unverified

We have labelled this claim as unverifiable. While it is well-documented that criminal gangs manage the logistics of small boat crossings, there is no public evidence to confirm that these gangs actively 'sift' or choose which specific individuals reach the French coast.

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What we found

It is clear from official reports that criminal networks are responsible for organising the transport and final crossing of migrants from northern France. However, the specific assertion that these gangs act as a 'gatekeeper'—deciding exactly who is permitted to reach the point of departure—is not supported by available data.

Because the internal decision-making processes of these criminal groups are clandestine, we cannot confirm whether they are actively selecting individuals or simply facilitating those who have already arrived in the region. As such, we cannot verify the Home Secretary's claim.

The evidence

3 of 4 sources support the claim; none contradict it.

Contradict 0Support 3Background 1

When each source was published

Supports the claim
The UK government acknowledges that criminal gangs are the primary entities behind small boat crossings and is working to disrupt their operations.
gov.uk· Border Security Commander’s annual report 2025 to 2026 (accessible)
August 6, 2026
Supports the claim
International agreements are being formed between the UK and Belgium to dismantle the smuggling gangs responsible for these crossings.
infomigrants.net· Belgium and the UK strike a deal to target Channel smuggling gangs
September 11, 2026
Background
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood stated that criminal gangs are in control of the border and perform the 'sifting' of people who reach northern France.
www.theguardian.com· Nearly all women arriving on small boats have been raped, says Shabana Mahmood
October 4, 2026
Supports the claim
Europol investigations confirm that criminal networks organise the logistics and transport of migrants, including the final stages of travel to the UK.
europol.europa.eu· From Vietnam to the EU by air: 8 arrested in a migrant smuggling sting across Europe – The investigation led to actions in France, Germany and Hungary | Europol
March 30, 2026

What we could not confirm

Whether criminal gangs actively 'sift' or select individuals for transit, or if they merely facilitate those who have already arrived in northern France.
The internal operational procedures of human smuggling networks regarding how they choose their clients.

How we checked

We reviewed official government reports, international law enforcement press releases, and media coverage of the Home Secretary's comments. If you have evidence regarding the selection processes of these criminal networks, please contact us. We reviewed 4 relevant sources.

Help us check this claim

We could not find enough public evidence to confirm or refute this claim. If you know of an official record, dataset, transcript or report that settles it, send us the link. We review every submission and update this fact check when the evidence changes the picture.

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