An Egyptian man has been jailed for one year after attempting to smuggle 173 migrants towards the UK in a large inflatable boat that later caught fire. The case highlights the dangers of organised Channel crossings, particularly when overcrowded vessels are used for profit.

The man was reported to have earned about £173,000 from the attempted crossing, roughly £1,000 per migrant. The boat was carrying 173 people when it burst into flames, underlining the potentially fatal risks faced by those on board.