Dozens of illegal migrants have crossed the Channel for the sixth straight day, after 70 arrived on a dinghy that launched from a beach near Boulogne today.
The Border Security Command vessel Courageous arrived into Dover with the latest batch of illegal migrants just after 4pm.
People smugglers launched their dinghy several hours earlier, despite stronger winds in the Channel today.
The latest illegal arrivals come after UK authorities confirm the moved rapidly to charge other small boat migrants who made the journey over the Bank Holiday weekend.
A small number of migrants who arrived in small boats during the weekend’s sunny weather and calmer waters have been charged with illegal immigration offences.
Charges were authorised by a specialist team of lawyers from the Crown Prosecution Service.
The CPS said the move aimed to ensure suspects were charged swiftly and appeared in court as soon as possible.
Those prosecuted for arriving in the UK without entry clearance are Osman Yesil, 47, a Turkish national who arrived on May 22.
He pleaded guilty at his first court hearing on 25 May at Folkestone Magistrates Court and was sentenced to eight months in prison.
Tawfiq Boubazine, 33, an Algerian national arrived on 22 May and also pleaded guilty at his first court hearing on 25 May at Folkestone Magistrates Court.
He was sentenced to eight months in prison.
Elidjon Cota, 29, an Albanian national arrived on 23 May and pleaded guilty on 26 May at Folkestone Magistrates Court.
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He was also sentenced to eight months in prison. Those charged with endangering the lives of others during a sea crossing and remanded in custody were: Jiechlat Buom, 25, a Sudanese national who arrived on 23 May in a small boat with 78 others.
His first court appearance was on 26 May, and a plea hearing will be on 29 June at Canterbury Crown Court.
Kueth Gatkuoth, 31, a Sudanese national arrived on 23 May.
His first court appearance was on 26 May, and a plea hearing will be on 29 June at Canterbury Crown Court.
Mehdi Najafi, 42, an Iranian national arrived in a small boat with 21 others on May 22.
His first court appearance was on May 25 and a plea hearing will be on June 22 at Canterbury Crown Court.
Sarah Dineley, from the Crown Prosecution Service, said: “Many of these cases were charged within hours over this bank holiday weekend which meant defendants were brought before a court within days of arriving in the UK.
"We charged the pilots of these boats with endangering the lives of others. These boats are overcrowded and people’s lives are being put at risk in one of the busiest shipping lanes in the world.
"The CPS continues to work with international partners to disrupt and dismantle organised crime groups, who are ultimately responsible for small boat crossings.
"We will use the laws available to us to prosecute where there is sufficient evidence, and it is in the public interest to do so.”
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