French maritime services rescued in the waters of the English Channel more than 140 migrants who were trying to get to the UK illegally by boat, the prefecture of the English Channel and North Sea reported on Saturday.

The first report of a boat in distress came to the regional operational center for monitoring and rescue at Cap Gris-Nez in the evening of Friday. As a result of the rescue operation, 40 migrants were pulled out of the water.

Two more boats were found in the morning of November 12. From one of them 52 migrants were rescued, from the other - another 50. All stranded illegals were taken to the port of Calais, where they were handed over to the border police.

Paris, together with London, has for several years been fighting the problem of illegal immigrants attempting to cross the English Channel and the Pas-de-Calais in inflatable or homemade boats to get to the UK. Despite the efforts of the authorities, the number of refugees is constantly growing. According to British services, more than 28,000 people entered the United Kingdom illegally using this route in 2021.

According to earlier forecasts circulated by the British Border Agency, this year will set another record for the number of illegals trying to get to the kingdom by sea. Many of them are citizens of Afghanistan, Iraq and Iran. Since the beginning of the year, more than 25,000 people have made it to British shores from France across the English Channel.