The number of illegal migrants smuggling themselves into the UK in HGVs at Channel ports has surged by nearly a quarter in the past year.
With small boat crossings soaring, migrants have been found sneaking into the back of lorries in an attempt to deceive Border Force units.
Figures show 5,874 migrants were detected at ports on the continent in the past year, in a sharp rise in attempted lorry crossings.
The ports include Calais, Dunkirk and the Channel Tunnel in Coquelles.
The number of illegal migrants smuggling themselves into the UK in HGVs at Channel ports has surged by nearly a quarter in the past year
Getty
That is a 22 per cent rise compared with the 4,794 caught in 2023.
The figure is suggested to be higher as the number of stowaways reaching Britain is harder to track than migrants crossing the Channel.
Smuggling in lorries was the primary method of entering the UK illegally up until 2018.
Migrants, understood to have sneaked into the back of an HGV travelling from Spain, were spotted jumping from the back of the lorry and running to a Sainsbury’s distribution centre in Charlton, South East London.
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:
Smuggling in lorries was the primary method of entering the UK illegally up until 2018
Getty
Police were called on Wednesday, arresting nine men and taking them into custody for questioning.
The four others were under the age of 18 and have been put under the care of social services, the Home Office has confirmed.
A trucker who was at the scene told the Sun: "A few of us were standing around the yard when a driver from an outside company delivering goods from Spain came in. He parked, opened the back door of his lorry up, and out came around a dozen immigrants.
"They started running around the yard trying to get out, but they didn’t get very far. Someone from the office noticed and the managers came out and were trying to contain them all. I don’t think the lorry driver had a clue they were in his vehicle. It took everyone by surprise.”
GB News exclusively revealed that approximately 1,200 small boat migrants crossed the English Channel last Saturday, May 31, overwhelming French and UK border patrols
Getty
A spokesman for Wincanton, which operates the distribution centre, said: “We are co-operating with the police and cannot comment further due to the ongoing investigation.”
More than 44,000 people are known to have arrived in the UK illegally last year, through small boats, in the back of lorries, using fake documents and hiding in car boots.
Small boat arrivals made up 86 per cent in the year to March, totalling 38,023.
GB News exclusively revealed that approximately 1,200 small boat migrants crossed the English Channel last Saturday, May 31, overwhelming French and UK border patrols.
Most Read
