This is the first image of the luxury yacht used by suspected Albanian people smugglers in a brazen attempt to transport 20 migrants into the UK under the radar of authorities.
The 23ft Beneteau Oceanis Clipper 343 was intercepted by Border Force officers in the English Channel on Sunday, as it made its way from the French port of Brest towards Newquay on the South Coast. The vessel, typically marketed as a family cruising yacht, concealed 20 Albanian nationals below deck — 19 men and one woman — all of whom have now been detained pending removal from the country.
Officials have confirmed that the yacht, which features two cabins, six beds, and a single bathroom, is the latest method employed by criminal networks looking to circumvent enhanced surveillance of small boats in the Channel.
The Home Office revealed that three Albanian men have been arrested and charged in connection with the incident. Bleda Bega, 44, is facing charges of facilitating illegal entry into the UK. He has been remanded in custody and will appear at Truro Crown Court on 13 May.
The other two men, Florjand Lika, 30, and Romeo Zani, 32, were found to be in breach of deportation orders. Both pleaded guilty at Bodmin Magistrates’ Court on 15 April and have been remanded to appear at Truro Crown Court for sentencing next month.
The use of a yacht — far removed from the more common inflatable dinghies — marks a shift in tactics by smuggling gangs, who are now turning to more sophisticated and discreet methods of transporting migrants. The Home Office confirmed that the migrants found on board the yacht were not included in the official small boat figures released this week.
According to new government data, published Monday, no small boat crossings were recorded on Sunday, 13 April — the same day the yacht was intercepted. However, the previous day saw a record surge, with 656 individuals making the perilous journey across the Channel aboard 11 separate vessels — the highest daily total so far in 2025.
Figures for the year to date suggest the UK is experiencing an alarming rise in unauthorised arrivals. Over 8,000 people have crossed the Channel by small boat in the first four months of 2025 — a 46 per cent increase on the same period in 2024, and a 65 per cent rise compared to 2023.
A spokesperson for the Home Office condemned the actions of smuggling gangs, stating: “The people-smuggling gangs do not care if the vulnerable people they exploit live or die, as long as they pay. We will stop at nothing to dismantle their business models and bring them to justice.
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“That’s why this government has put forward a serious, credible plan to finally restore order to our asylum system — including tougher enforcement powers, ramping up returns to their highest levels in over half a decade, and a major crackdown on illegal working that underpins the false promise of jobs used to sell spaces on boats.
“Our Border Force teams remain constantly vigilant, using state-of-the-art surveillance and intelligence capabilities to detect and intercept illegal entry attempts.”
The use of luxury yachts, such as the Beneteau Oceanis Clipper — which retails between £50,000 and £80,000 second-hand — represents a troubling evolution in smuggling operations. Experts warn that the trend could mark a shift in scale and sophistication that will challenge current border enforcement strategies.
The Home Office reiterated that anyone found guilty of facilitating illegal immigration faces arrest, prosecution, and a potential prison sentence.
