Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Three illegal immigrants discovered in lorry full of coffins

 

John Fahey
Wednesday 31 October 2012 08:17 GMT

Border Force officers got a Halloween surprise when they discovered three would-be illegal immigrants trying to enter Britain - in a lorry full of coffins.

The trio hid among dozens of boxed coffins which were loaded in a van from Bulgaria - across the border from Dracula's Transylvania home.

The human cargo was unearthed by sniffer dog Mitzy.

The discovery was made on Monday when Border Force officers searched the Bulgarian-registered lorry at the port of Dunkerque in northern France.

The truck, which was waiting to board a ferry to the UK, was carrying coffins bound for a funeral director in Hounslow, west London.

The stowaways - who are Eritrean nationals - were handed over to French border police and the vehicle was allowed to continue on its journey.

Paul Morgan, Border Force director for South East and Europe, said: "This was an unusual type of discovery, but in the past we have found people hiding in an array of freight, ranging from dog biscuits, bathtubs and now coffins.

"The incident shows exactly 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 and close collaboration with the French authorities helps protect the whole of the UK from people attempting to enter the country illegally.

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

PA

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in