REUTERS/GETTY Britain is braced for a fresh migrant invasion

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Crime lords behind the lawless town's thriving people-smuggling trade are launching a vast operation to bring thousands of migrants across the Channel before new security measures come into force, according to haulage industry insiders. Truckers have seen a steep rise in the number of stowaways trying to break into their vehicles in recent weeks, with many migrants turning to increasingly desperate and violent means in their attempts to reach the UK. Scroll down for video.

Industry experts believe criminal gangs are "mobilising" migrants after being spooked by planned new security measures in Calais, including extra fencing and the deployment of hundreds more police officers. Many of the new security measures are due to come into place within weeks, which could spark a mass rush of more than 6,000 migrants towards the ferry port and Eurostar terminals.

EPA Calais' 6,000-strong population could make an attempt to reach the UK

EPA People smuggling gangs know that new security measures will be introduced

Today the respected Freight Transport Association (FTA) industry body, which represents European hauliers, warned that attacks on lorries have risen sharply in recent weeks. Spokesman Donald Armour told Express.co.uk: "Because this is all serious organised crime - it's not really individuals anymore - you get the feeling the gang masters are organising this. "These criminals they are pretty savvy people, they are businessmen, and they are thinking 'we know this can't last forever'. "Sooner or later the port of Calais will be fenced off better than ever, and the Eurotunnel terminal too, and they are going to be pushing harder than ever and as fast as they can before the fencing is in place.

GETTY New fences are being installed around the port

GETTY The Jungle II migrant camp has more than doubled in size

They are going to be pushing harder than ever and as fast as they can before the fencing is in place FTA spokesman Donald Armour

He added: "Maybe the word's out - you've got to get these guys through and get the job done in the next couple of weeks otherwise it's over - and there's a lot of pressure from the traffickers. "They've got wind of the additional improvements that are in the pipeline and they've said 'right, we've got to go now before all these additional resources are thrown at the security'." The infamous Jungle II camp, just outside Calais port, has more than doubled to 6,000 in recent weeks as more and more migrants who have travelled across mainland Europe arrive at Britain's frontiers.

Video courtesy of the Freight Transport Association.

Drivers travelling through the lawless port town have warned migrants are becoming increasingly bold in their attempts to smuggle on board ships and lorries, with almost all attempts being carefully coordinated by criminal overlords. They are turning to increasingly extreme tactics including playing chicken with lorries and throwing stones at vehicles to make them stop, with some people even jumping onto the roofs of moving trucks from overhead pedestrian bridges. Last week thousands of migrants invaded a secure lorry compound at Calais port and "ran riot" as they overwhelmed security and attempted to stowaway. Trucker Euan Flemming, who drives for Belfast firm Blair Transport, said: "It made big news in the summer because holidaymakers were affected but the situation is worse than ever. I’m sitting here in a curtain-sided truck and there are thousands of migrants all around – I might as well roll out the red carpet. “The situation improved in August and September but this week it has gone downhill. The migrants have mobilised themselves – it is shockingly bad right now.”

REUTERS French interior minister Bernard Cazeneuve during a visit to Calais yesterday

REUTERS The number of migrants living in and around Calais has swelled

Large gangs of migrants have also successfully smashed their way into the Eurotunnel terminal for the last four nights in a row, blasting past extra guards and fencing paid for by Britain. But despite the disruption the Channel Tunnel operator reported a growth in profits today, with total revenues up 3% in the third quarter of this year to £244 million. The company said it had managed to grow its business "despite the migrant pressures", adding that it has doubled the number of security guards at Calais to 250.

Evacuation of Calais migrant camp Tue, June 21, 2016 A growing number of migrants seeking to reach Britain are trying to leave from the Belgium and France. Here are some of the scenes from the Calais migrant crisis in France... Play slideshow Photoshot 1 of 83 Mirants clash with police in Calais