Gangs target Europort by Sally Nash • Dartford's Thames Europort
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has become the latest target for organised gangs trying to smuggle illegal immigrants into the UK. In a recent two-week period 53 stowaways were found there.
The immigrants were caught in groups on four separate days, having arrived in the UK from Vlissingen, Holland, on ferry firm Dartline vessels. They came from countries including Somalia and Nigeria and from the Far East.
Dartline has since stepped up its security in both Holland and the UK by using sniffer dogs, and as a result, managed to find 70 illegal immigrants in Vlissingen before they got on the vehicles for the journey to the UK.
Steve Howard, freight office manager for Dartline, admits that Dartford was "hit heavily" at the beginning of April but adds that all ports get targeted at some stage.
He expects the gangs to begin looking elsewhere now that security is tighter at the Europort.
A spokesman for Dartford police says: "It is quite possible that Europort is being targeted because the number of incidents seen over the two weeks was much larger than anything we've had br ore."
Tlu Europort ,ncidents are only part of a massive and growing problem of illegal immigrants coming into the UK by truck; a trend that has been highlighted by CM.
But the situation has now become so worrying that the Road Haulage Association has issued an urgent warning to international operators to be extra vigilant about security.
Drivers and companies involved in these crimes face heavy penalties which could get even harsher as the problem continues to bite into the resources of police, the immigration service and social services, warns Chris Wright, regional director of the RHA's southern and eastern region.
Anyone caught with immigrants on board risks seven years in jail and the seizure of their vehicles.
"Please do all you can to ensure your drivers are aware of the threat to their livelihood and your company," says Wright.