Trial Opens in Paris Against Nine Suspected Smugglers Over Fatal 2023 English Channel Shipwreck

The trial of nine men accused of operating a people-smuggling network linked to a tragic English Channel shipwreck in August 2023 began in Paris on November 4, 2025. The incident caused the deaths of seven migrants and is considered one of the deadliest since increased clandestine crossings began in 2018.

The accused, ranging in age from 23 to 45, include two Iraqis, six Afghans, and a Sudanese man believed to have piloted the boat carrying 65 migrants to the UK. Two of them face arrest warrants. A tenth individual, a Sudanese minor during the incident, will be tried separately in juvenile court. All face charges including involuntary manslaughter, endangering others, facilitation of illegal entry and stay, and criminal association related to migrant trafficking.

The investigation uncovered an organized and structured smuggling network primarily led by the Iraqi-Kurdish community. This network operates through two main branches: a German-based logistical branch and an Afghan branch responsible for recruiting migrants for the perilous crossing. Survivors testified that the cost for passage to England ranged from 500 to 1,500 euros per person, illustrating the lucrative nature of the operation.

On the night of August 11-12, 2023, the overloaded seven-meter inflatable vessel suffered engine failure, causing it to capsize and throw passengers—none wearing life jackets—into the water. Six bodies were initially recovered, with a seventh found on a Dutch beach later.

This trial aims to clarify the responsibilities of each defendant and shed light on the mechanisms of these smuggling networks, which frequently strain France-UK relations. The court proceedings are scheduled to continue until November 18.

This case echoes a similar 2022 tragedy, where nine Afghan smugglers received prison sentences for a shipwreck killing eight migrants. The deadliest event on this route occurred in November 2021, with 27 fatalities, but has not yet been brought to trial.