Flap40, no. It's a small "c", as written.
Cahlibahn and especially
steamchicken raised valid comments.
People Trafficking (PTr), as it is now known, has been happening in the Marsh (though not exclusively there) since time immemorial, along with many other products, and is not exactly news, per se. The point about drugs and humans being of equal value is true and noteworthy. PTr now carries a potential life sentence, whether you be a truck driver, boat skipper or air pilot.
Back in the early 70s there was much PTr going on in the Marsh, predominantly of Indian/Pakistani origin and by boat. Local fishing skippers were targeted by the ringleaders and blackmailed, as in, "We know where your family lives." There were a few cases of aerial PTr, generally more mercenary, and the going rate
then was around £30k for the pilot, let alone the organiser's take.
The current rate for a truck passage through the Chunnel is around £10k, whether or not one suffocates en-route. What the air ferry costs these days I do not yet know, but in view of the penalties it is fair to assume that it is not the preferred route of your average refugee (
sic). This latest spate of arrivals appears to have been going on for a few weeks now.
Early this week, on the same day, two flights used a suitable inland field, arriving at impressively low-level and successfully departing likewise, in broad daylight! It is not yet clear whether the same aircraft was involved in both flights, but one group of pax and their waiting chauffeur were nobbled - the others were not. A
local resident managed to clock the reg of one arrival which led to a subsequent arrest in Belgium.
In view of the costs and penalties involved, the received wisdom is that, for the price, these folks were sufficiently well-funded to arrive on a 1st class ticket, enter the UK in a dignified manner and reside indefinitely at the Savoy --- unless, of course they were already assured of a very warm welcome at LHR, as they say.
When Joe Bloggs has his ciggies and plonk confiscated at Dover, or a daily bunch of Albanians gets nicked at Cheriton, it merits an inch or two in one of the rags. Yet, 5 days on and not a peep (well, OK, I haven't seen today's Kentish Express). Meanwhile heads-up, guys, we all know how good security is these days
IFR said yesterday that it reminded him of the Pearl Harbor fiasco. The UK also has an excellent reputation for apprehending villains
after the deed is done.
More anon.