The UK government plans to **impose sanctions** on activities related to **people-smuggling** across the English Channel.
**Prime Minister Keir Starmer** announced sanctions will include travel bans and asset freezes aimed at disrupting illicit finance.
The new powers require **Parliament's approval** and are expected to be implemented within a year.
The **Labour Party government** views smuggling gangs as a threat to global security and plans to treat them similarly to terror networks.
Despite increasing enforcement measures, the task of halting these migrations remains **challenging**, with over **38,000 crossings** recorded in 2024 alone.