The two episodes have once again thrown into focus the issue of illegal trafficking, and the extreme dangers to which poor migrants in search of greener pastures are exposed to.
In yesterday’s incident, the truck was stopped on the A303 after the police were alerted to shouts and banging coming from the back of the truck. When the back of the truck was opened and 11 men, three women and a 15-year old boy 15 people emerged from the refrigerated box. They claimed they were from Eritrea and India. All of them were in an advanced state of dehydration.
In the case of the Tilbury container castaways, who were Sikh Afghans, a 40-year old man who the police identified as Man Singh Kapoor was found dead, and the others very close to death. The 34 survivors include 10 men, nine women and 15 children. The oldest was 72. Here too the police were alerted by dock workers who heard bangs and shouts from inside the container.
The police have arrested one man on suspicion of manslaughter in the Tilbury case.
In the second and more recent incident, a man from Germany was arrested on facilitating the unlawful entry of the 15 stowaways, who are believed to have boarded the truck between Belgium and Calais. The truck was supposed to have been transporting pharmaceutical goods to Devon.
A Home Office spokersperson has confirmed that all 34 persons who were rescued in Tilbury are in the process of claiming asylum in the UK and are being provided accommodation and support. The case is with the National Crime Agency.(KH)
