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Check is no defence
Page 9
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A CAMBRIDGESHIRE operator is facing a £6,800 fine for carrying illegal immigrants — after his driver was given the all-clear by French customs.
Richard Watson, who runs Wisbech-based Cambs International Transport,says his driver arrived at Calais on Friday 26 November and passed though the heartbeat monitors, which indicated there were stowaways on board.
French customs also carried out a physical search of his truck but failed to discover any stowaways so they waved him through.
But when he arrived at the embarkation point British immigration officials checked the trailer and found four stowaways. Watson says: "I have been travelling across the water for over 15 years and this has never happened before. One of the stowaways still had the papers on him from where he had been caught in a truck bound for the UK earlier the same day. It's a complete farce. If the French authorities can't find them then what chance have truck drivers got?"
A Home Office spokeswoman warns that drivers have ultimate responsibility for any stowaways.