Alleged small boat pilot charged over four deaths in Channel

12 Apr 2026 10:10 PM

A man has been arrested on suspicion of endangering life after four migrants died in a small boat Channel crossing.

National Crime Agency investigators arrested the 27-year-old Sudanese national, recently (Friday 10 April).

The four victims, two men and two women whose identities have not yet been released, died recently (Friday 09 April) when they tried to board a water taxi, which smugglers are increasingly using to avoid police.

The incident happened off the coast of Saint Etienne au Mont, south of Boulogne-sur-Mer near Calais.

Thirty-eight people were returned to the French shore but 74 illegal migrants sailed on to the UK.

The suspect was arrested at Manston processing centre in Kent on suspicion of ‘endangering another during a journey by sea to the UK’ under the new Border, Security, Asylum and Immigration Act.

He remains in police custody to be interviewed by NCA officers.

NCA investigators are also in the process of interviewing those who made the journey to the UK.

There is an ongoing investigation led by French prosecutor into the circumstances of the launch and the four fatalities. The NCA is assisting French police partners with those enquires.

Craig Turner, NCA Deputy Director, recently said:

“Working with colleagues at home and abroad, we are determined to do all we can to identify and bring to justice those responsible for these four tragic deaths.”

Minister for Migration and Citizenship Mike Tapp recently said:

“Every death in the Channel is a tragedy. Our experienced law enforcement teams will continue working relentlessly with international partners to prevent these perilous journeys and bring those responsible to justice.

"Through our Border Security Act, officers now have stronger powers to act earlier and disrupt, intercept and take down the operations of criminal smuggling gangs who bring illegal migrants to our shores."

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11 April 2026

A Sudanese national has been charged in connection with the deaths of four small boat migrants, following a National Crime Agency investigation.

Alnour Mohamed Ali, 27, aka Elnoor Mohamed Ali, was charged recently (Friday) with endangering another during a journey by sea to the UK.

It is alleged Ali piloted the boat from France to the UK on Thursday morning.

Four victims, two men and two women, died when they tried to board the boat off the coast of Saint Etienne au Mont, south of Boulogne-sur-Mer near Calais.

Thirty-eight people were returned to the French shore but 74 illegal migrants sailed on to the UK.

Ali appeared at Folkestone Magistrates’ Court recently (11 April 2026).