Four in ten Channel migrants are from peaceful Albania, says leaked report

FOUR in ten Channel migrants are from peaceful Albania, a leaked intelligence report says.

A Royal Navy surveillance operation also found nine gangs are behind crossings.

Of the 2,863 migrants transported between June 1 and July 12 at least 1,075, or 37.5 per cent, were Albanian.

But there has not been a war in the tiny Balkan nation for 25 years. Richard Tice, TalkTV host and leader of Reform UK, got hold of the leaked report,

He said: “If these people are not genuinely fleeing for their lives, it is not up to the British taxpayer to support them.”

According to the report, the total from Albania dwarfed other nationalities, with Iranians the next highest with 373, or 13 per cent of the total.

Meanwhile three new boats will help tackle the growing crisis.

The Border Force vessels, able to accommodate up to 450 people, will start patrols as the Navy looks to withdraw.

Home Office officials signed a £2million deal to lease the 80ft craft for two years.

They also have a £600,000 order in for two rigid inflatables.

The Seacat Services support vessels, used for offshore wind farm repairs, will be based in Ramsgate, Kent.

A spokesman said: “The vessels have a large foredeck and make them well-suited for migrant rescue.”

Border Force currently has six 140ft cutters and six smaller vessels.

A Home Office spokesman said: “We do not comment on operational matters. The government is to review the Navy’s migrant operations next year.”