People smugglers will be subject to financial sanctions like Russian oligarchs as part of Sir Keir Starmer ’s efforts to curb the Channel migrant crossings.

Britain will create a new sanctions regime to target the ringleaders of illegal migration networks who facilitate and profit from smuggling tens of thousands of people into the country each year, the government said on Wednesday.

Keir Starmer plans to set up a sanctions regime targeting people smugglers as the UK prime minister seeks to deliver on an electoral pledge to “smash the gangs” helping asylum seekers enter the country via irregular routes.