Twenty inflatable boats thought to be intended for people smugglers in the English Channel have been seized from a lorry in Bulgaria, the second such discovery in less than three weeks.

The boats were discovered overnight on Sunday at the Kapitan Andreevo checkpoint in a truck bound for the Netherlands.

According to official figures, over 25,000 migrants have crossed the Channel in 2025, the highest number since July.

According to Gill Duggan, head of Europe for National Crime Agency International, “Stopping these dangerous boats from reaching the hands of people smugglers has prevented crossings and lives being put at risk.” Last month, NCA officers worked with Bulgarian partners to seize an additional 25 inflatable boats.

It is now believed that 69 boats were seized at the Kapitan Andreevo checkpoint in 2025. The latest seizure was made as part of an NCA operation, in collaboration with Home Office International Operations, to target supplies of small boat equipment entering Europe.

The Bulgarian National Customs Agency received intelligence, which allowed officers to intercept and search the lorry.

According to the NCA, the 8m (26.2ft) long boats, which are not designed for deep water use, could have transported up to 1,200 people across the Channel.

The agency stated that the truck driver had been charged with violating Bulgarian customs regulations.