British lorry drivers have warned that a French port had become ‘the new Calais’ after a people smuggler was jailed for three years.
They say the Normandy city of Caen is now the pressure point for illegal immigration after security was tightened at Calais.
A judge has spoken of the ‘increasing concern’ of people being smuggled into the country after the smuggler was caught with two asylum seekers in his car boot.
French national Issa Kebe was jailed for three years after he was caught at Portsmouth International Port in Hants, as he tried to help the pair enter the UK.
British lorry driver Alan Mouland (left) said drivers now fearing for their safety whenever travelling from Caen to Portsmouth. Shown right is people smuggler Issa Kebe
The 33-year-old was found with two Sri Lankan men after travelling by ferry from Caen, France, to pay off a €7,000 gambling debt to French gangsters.
Portsmouth Crown Court heard gangsters threatened Kebe that his family would be shot unless he carried out the people smuggling operation.
He was stopped at passport control in Portsmouth after coming over in a hire vehicle on January 14.
He was asked to show his identification, then officials discovered the Sri Lankans in the boot.
Alan Mouland, who runs AMT European Transport, a freight firm based in Fareham, Hants, regularly makes runs from Ouistreham port, north of Caen.
The 68-year-old businessman said the situation was descending into chaos, with HGV drivers now fearing for their safety whenever travelling from the French port to Portsmouth.
Mr Mouland runs AMT European Transport, a freight firm based in Fareham, Hants
He added: ‘It is absolutely horrendous out there. Portsmouth to Caen is a big problem.
‘It’s getting worse and worse and worse since they tightened up security in Calais.
‘All the ports across France are risky business and Caen is the worst.
‘It used to be lovely but you daren’t leave your vehicle even for five minutes. There are loads of migrants, they’re everywhere. You’re constantly looking over your shoulder.
‘We, as commercial vehicle drivers, have a facility we can go through and it’s relatively safe but you cannot use the passenger cafe because they will be in your truck within five minutes. It’s that bad now.’
He said on one occasion at the port he spotted at least 12 different migrants attempting to clamber inside vehicles to sneak across to the UK.
Mr Mouland added: ‘They are upsetting local business. The French security is doing its best but these guys are very determined.’
The court heard Kebe had got into financial strife after his gambling addiction spiralled out of control.
Unable to pay off his debt he was given an ultimatum to carry out a people smuggling voyage to ‘wipe the slate clean’ or face the grim reality of his family being exterminated.
Giles Bedloe, defending, said: ‘He was given a solution to pay off his gambling debt after meeting with a man a week before the smuggling took place.
‘The man threatened him and said he didn’t mind if someone was to disappear, before saying he would turn up at his parents’ house. He then lifted up his shirt and showed him a gun.
Increasing numbers being smuggled via Portsmouth is causing significant anxiety for operators (stock image)
‘Mr Kebe felt he could not possibly put his family in danger. He knew he was committing an illegal act but felt he had no choice but to do it. He only did it to pay off the debt.
‘The two men were total strangers to Kebe, I’m not sure he even knew they were asylum seekers.’
Mr Bedloe added: ‘There was limited planning and sophistication in this case compared with commercial operations.’
Kebe admitted helping asylum seekers to enter the United Kingdom.
Sentencing him to three years in prison, Judge Michael Vere-Hodge QC said: ‘There is increasing concern about the number of people being smuggled into this country.’
The incident marks a trend of people smuggling taking place through Portsmouth as authorities battle to get a grip on the problem.
Increasing numbers being smuggled via Portsmouth is causing significant anxiety for operators.