UK Sanctions 24 People-Smuggling Gangs, One Company With Asset Freezes and Travel Bans Starting July 23

The United Kingdom has introduced a new sanctions regime targeting people-smuggling gangs and companies involved in facilitating illegal migration across the English Channel. The government announced sanctions against 24 individuals and one company linked to people smuggling, including gang leaders and businesses selling small boat equipment used for Channel crossings. These measures include freezing assets and banning travel to the UK for those implicated. The sanctions aim to disrupt the financial networks that support irregular migration and are the first of their kind globally to specifically target smugglers involved in small boat crossings. The first wave of sanctions was scheduled for enforcement on Wednesday, July 23, 2025. The UK government emphasized this action as part of broader efforts to reduce migrant arrivals and address systemic failures in border policies between the UK and France, which have been criticized for risking lives without sufficient accountability.