Six Men Found Hiding In The Back Of A Lorry Near Chichester

19 February 2014, 13:11

Border Agency officers are questioning six African men in Chichester, accused of smuggling themselves into the UK in the back of a lorry.

The men were arrested on suspicion of illegal entry to the UK after they were reported being in a lorry that had stopped on the A27 at Tangmere on Tuesday 18 February.

Police were called to the Italian-registered vehicle at 12.42pm when the driver had heard banging from the inside of the lorry.

Concerned that the lorry might be refrigerated, officers moved quickly to get the people out and a rolling road block was put in place on the A27 while this happened in case any attempted to run when released from the vehicle. The westbound carriageway was closed for around half-an-hour.

Six men, three aged 24 and the others aged 23, 28 and 29, all originally from Eritrea, were arrested and remain in custody. They will be interviewed by UK Border Agency officers.