&A accused of poring mules
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,IGuy Sheppard ails biggest transport union to stand up for drivers unwittingly become mules international smuggling s, a lawyer claims.
:air Trials Abroad Trust says e has never been "a oak" on the issue from the isport & General Workers pri, leaving the United Road isport Union as a lone voice n the union movement. 'What it needs is a
opean-wide campaign ween the unions and the Dloyers," says trust director phen Jakobi. "It strikes me t the T&G have probably got y wide and deep contacts in ; area." He argues that the e is right for concerted ion now the two unions are ;inning to settle their differes ( CM14-20 June).
The latest British driver to fined for carrying contraid goods in a sealed conier after being declared ocent by a French court is hard Kirsop, a Self-employed ver from Birmingham.
He is appealing against a 00,000 fine for carrying clgates. Sarah de Mas, deputy ector of the trust, says there pears to be a contradiction tween French criminal law and customs law which places the burden of proof on the drivers to clear their name.
Kirsop says the fine came two years after he was acquitted by the criminal court. "I'm still going back and forwards to France and my wife's scared to death I will be arrested again because of the fine."
Another driver, David Benney, has just won his appeal against a £500,000 fine for transporting drugs in a sealed trailer (CM5-11July).
A spokesman for the 15,000strong TGWU says it has supported the trust's campaigns in the past. "As and when any T&G member gets caught up in this issue abroad, we will fight their corner."
But Bob Monks, the new general secretary of URTU, which has a total of 17,500 members, says: "We have been more vocal as an organisation to pick up the plight of UK drivers who have been caught out. I think it is probably due to the fact that we have an increasing presence in Europe."
He adds that a meeting with TGWU leaders this week will be the first opportunity to discuss such issues since the thaw in relations between the two unions.