16 Migrants Found Hidden in Lorry on M25
A 36-year-old driver was arrested after police stopped his vehicle on the M25 at the A3 junction around 3.30pm on Sunday, 21 March.
Inside the lorry’s trailer, officers uncovered 16 migrants hidden away, sitting on pallets specially laid across the load to fit them in.
Suspects From Morocco, Algeria, and Pakistan Held
All 16 migrants were taken into custody on suspicion of immigration offences. Nationalities include Moroccan, Algerian, and Pakistani.
The M25 anti-clockwise exit slip road was briefly closed as the National Crime Agency (NCA) and police dealt with the scene.
Driver Questioned Over Plot to Smuggle Migrants
The driver is now under investigation by the NCA for allegedly planning to illegally move the migrants out of the UK through Channel ports.
The operation was carried out with support from the Metropolitan Police and Surrey Police.
Crackdown on People Smuggling Networks
“People smuggling networks move migrants both ways across borders, threatening security and risking lives,” said Chris Hill, NCA branch operations manager. “We are determined to disrupt those networks, and today’s operation shows we mean business.”
