Migrants pay off free dinghy crossing by working illegally

MIGRANTS trying to come by small boat to the UK have told the Express they will be transported for free by traffickers as they can pay off the debt working illegally.

- By Zak Garner-Purkis in Calais Pictures: Phil Harris and Dan Dove

A group of 10 the Express found hiding in woods near the French coast described the deals they struck with people smugglers in Turkey long before travelling.

Fees ranged between £1,500 and £2,000 according to the group, which they do not have to pay up-front.

Instead, their families provide an assurance to the gang leaders if they cannot pay the debt once they have arrived in Britain.

When asked how they managed to fund the journey which they described as “expensive” - a man with a scarf hiding his face explained: “Family or other people guarantee, for no money, in Turkey.”

He was referring to an informal credit system in which a guarantor vouches for the debt, allowing the migrant to travel without immediate payment.

Turkey is known to be one of the main hubs through which migrants make their way to the UK.

The Express asked if migrants repay the cost through illegal work, such as being riders for delivery firms. The group responded with nods of agreement, confirming the widespread use of this arrangement.