Man arrested after 16 migrants found in lorry in Surrey
The group were discovered sitting on pallets in the trailer
Last updated 22nd Mar 2021
A man suspected of planning to move migrants out of the UK illegally has been arrested in Surrey.
In total 16 migrants from Morocco, Algeria and Pakistan were discovered in a lorry which was stopped at around 3.30pm at the Wisley Interchange on the M25 on Sunday (21 March).
The group, who had been sitting on pallets in the trailer, were all detained on suspicion of immigration offences.
A 36-year-old Turkish lorry driver has been arrested on suspicion of people smuggling offences and is suspected of planning to move the migrants out of the UK illegally via the Channel ports.
Chris Hill from the National Crime Agency said: “People smuggling networks move migrants in both directions across the border, threatening the security of both the UK and our European neighbours, but also putting lives at risk.
“Working with our partners across UK law enforcement we are determined to do all we can to disrupt those networks. Today’s operation is an example of that in action.”
The M25 anti-clockwise exit slip at the A3 had to be closed for a short period of time while the lorry and migrants were dealt with by the NCA and police.