Unmanned rubber boat with migrants that appeared near Breskens last weekend departed from the Netherlands

A rubber boat carrying 38 migrants was found off the coast of Breskens, Netherlands, having departed from Dutch territory. Most migrants typically board boats from the French coast. The boat included 36 Afghan men, six of whom were minors, and two Sudanese individuals suspected of human smuggling. The migrants likely aimed for the UK, but details about their departure location remain unclear. This year, fewer migrants have attempted the crossing, with over 22,000 arriving in the UK by the end of October, a 40% decrease from the previous year. The Belgian police have noted an increase in smuggling attempts from their coast as well.