NINE Iraqi migrants were detained after a small boat was found off Devon — hundreds of miles from the normal crossing route.
The yacht was spotted near the fishing port of Brixham — at least 80 miles across the Channel from France.
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It was towed into Brixham Harbour by an RNLI lifeboat.
The Home Office said the group, now in custody, would be dealt with according to immigration rules.
A Border Force source has said people smugglers have moved west in France as policing near Calais has improved.
It is the shortest crossing to Dover, at 21 miles.
The source said: “Hundreds could be using a different route. We suspect it’s always happened.”
It came after 11 boats carrying 707 migrants in all were intercepted on Saturday, taking the year’s total to 24,335.
Former immigration minister Robert Jenrick yesterday revealed that dozens of terror suspects have been among those to have crossed.
The Home Office said: “We all want to see an end to dangerous small boat crossings.”