In 2012 the ECHR ruled that when you intercept a migrant boat in international waters, they fall under your jurisdiction, so the same rules apply. You can't send them back even if you stop them en route.
"It's very unfortunate, but they all jumped off the boat with no life vests as soon as we approached to one nautical mile. Turns out we intercepted 30 kilos of heroin. So we destroyed the boat and its vile cargo after our divers failed to rescue anyone."
"It's very unfortunate, but they all jumped off the boat with no life vests as soon as we approached to one nautical mile. Turns out we intercepted 30 kilos of heroin. So we destroyed the boat and its vile cargo after our divers failed to rescue anyone."
or better yet:
Boat? What boat?