African stowaways caught on their way to Peterlee

Jun 25 2010 by Kerry Wood, The Journal

THIS is the moment a gang of four African stowaways plotting a new life in Britain was discovered hiding among machine parts destined for a North East factory.

Officers with the UK Border Agency foiled the attempt by the four to sneak into the region. The Eritreans were caught hiding in the haul of machine parts heading to County Durham.

It is not known when the four boarded the lorry but they were caught by border agency officers when it rolled into Calais. Spotting the lorry’s trailer had been tampered with, officers stopped and inspected the Italian-registered vehicle.

A body detection dog was let loose on the trailer and indicated there were people hiding inside the load destined for the North West Industrial Estate in Peterlee, County Durham.

Having been caught, the stowaways were removed from the lorry, photographed, refused entry to the UK and handed over to the French authorities.