Teenage Pilot of Mega-Dinghy With 165 Migrants Aboard Charged

A teenager has been charged with piloting a “mega-dinghy” carrying a record 165 migrants across the Channel.

Chan Mathok Atak, 19, is accused of endangering another during a journey by sea to the UK on Thursday.

Mr Atak, from South Sudan, has been remanded in custody and will appear at Margate magistrates’ court on Monday.

The number of people aboard the vessel broke the previous record, set in July, when 128 people crossed from France to the UK in one boat.

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The average number of people per small boat has increased from seven in 2018 to 63 in the year ending this March, and 70 in the last month. The higher number reflects efforts by people-smuggling gangs to cram more migrants onto boats to maximise profits.

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Thursday’s arrivals brought the total of migrants who have crossed the Channel so far this year to 13,373 – more than 40 per cent lower than during the same period last year.

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