Journalist Paid 1,400 Euros to Sneak Onto Migrant Boat: Uncovered Police's Dirty Game?

British journalist Christian Drogan infiltrated a migrant smuggling operation, documenting perilous journeys from France to the United Kingdom. After nearly a year of investigating smuggling routes across the English Channel, Drogan paid 1,400 euros to join a migrant boat crossing.

Drogan, a journalist for Watchman Media, described his experience in an article published in The Telegraph on August 25. He initially attempted to use various identities when communicating with smugglers but eventually revealed he was British and claimed to be a fugitive. He found an agent willing to take a risk on him, leading to contact with someone who would guide him to the departure point.

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At the end I found an agent who was willing to risk it with an English 'brother'.

The journey to the coast involved multiple waits and transfers. Drogan traveled by bus and train, walked miles through sand dunes, and slept in forests and parks with other individuals awaiting passage. He reported walking 42,000 steps in a single day. Upon receiving word that the crossing would occur the next day, he was directed to a forest camp where he spent the night in a tent.

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I heard her cries and found her hand, shouting at the men to move as I pulled her up.

On the beach, chaos ensued as migrants rushed toward the boat. Drogan, carrying a waterproof bag and using Meta glasses with a built-in camera, managed to board. He recounted pulling a woman who fell and was nearly trampled out of the crowd. Shortly after departure, the boat's engine failed. Drogan claims a French police officer entered the water and punctured the vessel with a sharp object. Other officers on shore allegedly held weapons pointed at the boat, forcing the passengers back to land.

Drogan described seeing a smuggler being demonstratively arrested amidst the chaos. To avoid being stopped and searched, he ran for cover and fell asleep on the sand, exhausted. The following day, he had another opportunity to cross on a boat with a stronger engine carrying 36 people. During this voyage, he realized some passengers were part of the smuggling network, tasked with vetting the other travelers.

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Somewhere in the middle of the chaos I saw a smuggler being demonstratively arrested. Desperately wanting to avoid being stopped and searched by officials (revealing my British passport would end the mission), I ran for cover.