Meanwhile, the NCA announced earlier it had been involved in more than 300 arrests of people smugglers in five years since it launched a joint operation with French police.

In July alone, six members of an Afghan people-smuggling network were sentenced to a total of 26 years and 10 months imprisonment in France, and received fines totalling £150,000.

Rick Jones, who leads the NCA’s international network, said: “France is a key partner for the UK in the fight against organised immigration crime, and the NCA enjoys an excellent bi-lateral relationship with our French law enforcement counterparts.

“Together with them we are determined to do all we can to target these cruel people smuggling gangs who are putting lives at risk by transporting migrants across the Channel.”