Smugglers use emojis to hide crossing ads

PEOPLE smugglers are disguising adverts for Channel crossings on social media using emojis and codes to avoid detection.

- BY MICHAEL KNOWLES Home Affairs Editor

Criminal kingpins are behind the posts on sites such as TikTok.

The National Crime Agency said gangs operate “a large number of accounts” simultaneously to “increase their reach” and allow them to fill boats and lorries.

Crosshead

In a bid to avoid being spotted by social media sites’ tech, smugglers are increasingly putting emojis, text and codes over video clips of successful small-boat crossings.