A French court has sentenced 18 members of a human smuggling ring, with the leader receiving 15 years in prison and a €200,000 fine. The group was involved in transporting migrants from France to the UK, and their arrests occurred during a large-scale European police operation in 2022. Despite a significant crackdown, 31,000 migrants have attempted to cross the English Channel this year, with at least 56 fatalities reported, making it the deadliest year since 2018. Migrants continue to seek passage to the UK due to language ties, family connections, and perceived easier asylum processes.