(BBC) Six boats carrying 82 migrants have been intercepted by Border Force vessels off the Kent coast.
The first boats were spotted at about 06:30 BST on Wednesday, the Home Office said.
Three women were among those onboard the small boats crossing the Channel from France.
Chris Philp, minister for immigration compliance and the courts, said he is determined to dismantle the criminal gangs responsible.
Those onboard the boats presented themselves as Iranian, Somalian, Syrian, Yemeni, Kuwaiti, Afghan, Egyptian, Indian, [and] Iraqi.
