French border police have arrested two Albanian men at a Calais ferry terminal after finding a silenced handgun in their vehicle. The suspects, aged 28 and 32, were detained on Wednesday evening during a routine check of a lorry heading to the UK. Officers discovered the weapon, along with ammunition, hidden in a compartment inside the cab.
The arrests come amid heightened security at French ports, with UK-funded measures including doubled police patrols and new surveillance equipment. The Home Office confirmed that the suspects are being held in France pending further investigation. A spokesperson said the case highlights the ongoing threat of organised crime linked to Channel crossings.
Meanwhile, the number of migrants crossing the English Channel in small boats has dropped by over a third compared to last year, according to official figures. UK and French officials have welcomed the decline, attributing it to increased patrols and technology such as drones. However, thousands of migrants remain in northern France, waiting for opportunities to attempt the dangerous journey.
In a separate incident last month, French gendarmes intercepted a group of about 50 migrants near Boulogne, destroying their inflatable boat and equipment. The operation, part of a £480m UK support package, also uncovered smugglers using motorbike inner tubes as makeshift lifejackets. Violent clashes between police and smuggling gangs have been on the rise, with 30 officers injured in recent weeks.
