A 19-year-old Sudanese national has been remanded in custody after being charged in connection with a Channel crossing that reportedly carried a record 165 people, the National Crime Agency (NCA) has said.
Chan Mathok Atak, originally from South Sudan, is accused of endangering another person during the sea journey and is due to appear at Margate Magistrates’ Court. The vessel – described in media reports as a "mega dinghy" – arrived in Dover on Thursday and was photographed being towed into the Border Security Command compound.
What happened at sea
Authorities said the boat was estimated to measure about 13 metres (42ft) – roughly the length of a standard bus. The arrival set a new record for the largest number of people carried in a single small boat across the Channel, surpassing a previous figure of 128.
- Number on this boat: 165 (record)
- Previous single-boat record: 128
- Other arrivals that day: Home Office figures show 366 people arrived in three boats on Thursday
Responding units included Border Force vessels, a UK Coastguard aeroplane and the RNLI Dungeness lifeboat. The Coastguard described its activity as a response to "small boats activity" in the Channel during calm conditions.
Charity response and official context
Refugee charity Care4Calais said the route is becoming increasingly hazardous because more people are being packed into each boat. Its chief operations officer, Sydney Sopher, criticised the focus on enforcement by the UK and French governments and urged the opening of safe routes as an alternative.
“The UK and French governments have spent years focusing on border security and enforcement, yet all they’ve achieved is to make Channel crossings more and more dangerous.
Sopher added that data shows the average number of people crossing on single boats has been rising year on year and argued that opening safe routes would halt the trend.
Daily totals and recent pattern
Home Office statistics released alongside the incident noted that 366 people arrived in three boats on the same day. The crossings followed a two-day period of high activity, with 172 people reported to have made the journey in three boats on Wednesday. These were the first recorded crossings since a recent pause of 11 days caused by adverse winds.
| Day | People arrived | Number of boats |
|---|---|---|
| Wednesday | 172 | 3 |
| Thursday (including record boat) | 366 | 3 |
The NCA and Border Force continue to investigate the circumstances of the crossings and the conduct of those alleged to have organised or operated the vessels. The case involving the 19-year-old will proceed through the courts next week.
Local authorities and maritime agencies have repeatedly warned that overcrowded, unseaworthy small boats present grave risks to those aboard. The incident has renewed calls from charities for policy changes to reduce perilous irregular crossings.
