QUIETER ports on the south coast may be targeted by smuggling gangs charging migrants thousands of pounds to arrange their journey.

According to intelligence from the National Crime Agency (NCA) - the UK’s equivalent to the FBI - criminal networks use less busy ports within the UK as well as the main Channel crossing between Calais and Kent.

Tom Dowdall, deputy director of the organisation’s border policing command, warned that criminals such as people traffickers are making the most of “quieter” ports in the south as security tightens elsewhere.

“We’ve seen on the east coast evidence from Tilbury and Purfleet, up as far as Hull and Immingham. And on the south coast from Newhaven to Portsmouth,” Mr Dowdall said.

He said someone wishing to travel from Iraq to the UK could pay just under £4,000 to go over land through Turkey and Europe, while the price jumps to more than £13,500 for a journey by air.

Referring to the more expensive example, Mr Dowdall said: “That’s someone who has been able to access a good quality travel document to be able to cross borders and to be able to fool airlines as well.”

The cost and sophistication of efforts to smuggle migrants into Britain from France varies considerably.

Prices can range from as little as just over £100 for a single, basic attempt to more than £6,000 for a journey in a “high-quality concealment”.

In March, the Daily Echo reported that fears had been raised over Dorset’s anti-terrorism capabilities following the attacks in Brussels.

The CEO of Poole Harbour Commissioners, Jim Stewart, said: “UK Border Force and Dorset Police are responsible for policing within the port and for checking incoming port traffic.

“Poole Harbour Commissioners, as the port operator, work very closely with these and other agencies.

“Crime levels remain very low within the port of Poole and appropriate checks are carried out for port traffic on a daily basis.

“We remain vigilant and we would immediately report any suspicious activity around the port estate to the relevant authorities.”

The NCA’s taskforce has up to 60 open lines of enquiry into organised crime gangs at any one time.