Berlin: Germany is set to close a legal loophole that previously allowed human traffickers to store small boats used for crossing the English Channel, as part of a broader agreement with the UK aimed at combating people-smuggling, according to the British Interior Ministry.

Since taking office in July, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has focused on cracking down on illegal migration, especially targeting people-smuggling gangs. In September, he reached a deal with Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni to enhance intelligence sharing and work together to dismantle these gangs. Recently, his government has also forged a security pact with Iraq to bolster border cooperation and tackle trafficking networks.

The British Interior Ministry outlined that under the new plan, Germany would clarify its laws, making it a criminal offense to aid the smuggling of migrants to the UK. This would equip German prosecutors with greater powers to address the storage and distribution of dangerous small boats, and enable closer cooperation between Germany and the UK in combating people-smuggling operations.

Germany confirmed its commitment to the joint action plan, which focuses on disrupting the supply chains and preventing irregular border crossings. However, Germany did not provide further details on addressing the specific legal loophole.