BRUSSELS, Belgium: Human traffickers have begun using Belgium's shoreline to transport migrants to Britain since France tightened controls ​along its coast, authorities say.

Police spokesperson An Berger told Reuters that the number of such departures remains low but has increased this year. There have been 17 cases so far, compared to no more than two each year since 2021.

Britain and France have both taken stricter action against small boats that carry thousands of migrants across the English Channel. For example, they introduced a "one in, one out" system.

Chris Borowski, a spokesperson for the EU border agency Frontex, said that more migrants are now leaving from Belgian beaches mainly because French coastal patrols have become stronger.

He also explained that smugglers are using "taxi boats." These boats depart from quiet beaches in Belgium with a small group, then travel along the coast to pick up more passengers before heading to the UK.

Authorities say migrants usually pay around 2,000 euros (about US$2,300) to smugglers, but there is no guarantee they will get on a boat. Some also face threats and abuse, including sexual violence.

Berger said that last month, volunteers rescued 19 people from a sinking inflatable boat at night near the Belgian coastal town of De Haan. Only one person was wearing a life jacket.

Officials expect more attempts as the weather improves.

Belgian Migration Minister Anneleen Van Bossuyt said that even one boat leaving is too many.

Even so, the number of departures from Belgium is still much lower than the main France-Britain route. About 41,500 people were detected crossing the Channel in small boats last year.

According to data from the University of Oxford's Migration Observatory, around 2,200 people crossed in the first two months of 2026.