Stowaways caught in lorry bound for Derbyshire

Six would-be illegal immigrants have been stopped from entering the UK after Border Force officers found them hiding inside a Ilkeston-bound lorry.

The men, all from India, were discovered at the Port of Coquelles on 6 September as the Estonian registered lorry waited to board the Eurotunnel Shuttle roll-on/roll-off to the UK.

Using a carbon dioxide probe, officers detected the group hiding in boxes containing car parts which were due to be delivered to Ilkeston in Derbyshire.

The stowaways were handed over to the French border police and the vehicle was allowed to continue onto its destination.

Paul Morgan, of Border Force, said:  "This incident shows why we base Border Force staff in France - to stop would-be illegal immigrants before they can reach the UK.

"Our strong presence in French ports like Coquelles helps protect the whole of the UK from people attempting to enter the country illegally.”

As well as using carbon dioxide probes, Border Force officers use sniffer dogs, heartbeat detectors, and physical searches to find people hiding in vehicles.

A leaflet, issued by Border Force, in partnership with the Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA), gives information and advice to lorry drivers transporting freight to and from the UK on how to prevent illegal immigration and avoid becoming victims of crime can be found HERE.

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