Sixteen Immigrants Found Packed Into HGVs at M25 Services – Police Make Arrests
Police swooped on two lorries at the M25’s Clacket Lane services late Tuesday evening, uncovering sixteen immigrants crammed into the back. Officers from Surrey Road Policing Team quickly stepped in, calling for backup from neighbouring kent-police/" title="Kent Police" data-wpil-keyword-link="linked">Kent Police to help manage the shocking scene.
Huge Police and Ambulance Response at M25
Just after 7pm, a convoy of police vans and ambulances from South East Coast arrived at the motorway services. Emergency crews treated some of the immigrants who suffered minor ailments after being trapped in the cramped conditions. Many had wrapped themselves in duvets and sleeping bags to keep warm inside the lorries.
Drivers Cooperating as Immigration Enforcers Take Over
Though it’s unclear if the lorry drivers were arrested, they are assisting officers with the investigation. Surrey Police alerted Immigration Enforcement, who are now handling the case. The operation follows similar incidents — in 2015, Surrey Police arrested 18 suspected migrants fleeing a lorry on the M25 hard shoulder. Another 15 were found in 2016.
A South East Coast Ambulance Service spokeswoman said: “We were called at about 7.20pm to reports of a group of people in the back of two lorries. We assessed those found, some with minor ailments.”
M25 Clacket Lane – A Known Hotspot
The M25 motorway services continue to be a hotspot for migrant smuggling attempts, with authorities stepping up patrols and investigations. This latest bust highlights the ongoing dangers and desperate measures some take to reach the UK.
