NI Arrest As Migrants Found In Lorry In Belgium

A man has been arrested in Northern Ireland in connection with the discovery of ten migrants in a lorry in Belgium.

The 30 year-old was detained in Co Antrim today, Friday 06 March, and is among three suspects being questioned by the National Crime Agency on suspicion of facilitating illegal immigration.

Two Irish nationals, aged 39 and 48, were also detained in Dover.

The arrests follow the discovery of two adults and eight juveniles, all thought to be from south east Asia, in a lorry carrying tyres near Ghent in Belgium on Thursday.

The Belgian authorities later arrested the driver, a 64 year-old man from Glasgow, acting on information from the NCA as it probes the activities of a crime group suspected of transporting migrants from the continent into the UK in the back of lorries.

Officers also carried out searches at properties in England and Northern Ireland, with two suspected firearms seized at an address in Kent.

NCA regional head of investigation Gerry McLean said: "Our close working with our Belgian partners in this instance has led to the safeguarding of a number of migrants who had been put in a very dangerous situation, and we are grateful for their support.

"We have seen only recently in Essex the tragic consequences which these types of attempts can have.

"Working with partners at home and abroad, we are determined to do all we can to disrupt and dismantle criminal networks involved in illegal immigration, and our investigation into this matter continues."

West Flanders Prosecutor Frank Demeester added: "This kind of human smuggling is very dangerous, and the operation proves once more that international cooperation works in the fight against this type of organised crime.

"The contacts between the British NCA and Belgian Federal Judicial Police, maritime police and prosecutors have become more intense in recent years.

"In the fight against human smuggling, the UK is obviously an important partner as being the country of destination."



(JG/CM)