Police round-up 18 illegal immigrants found stowed-away in back of lorry stopped on M26 in Kent
- Police found 18 illegal migrants in back of a lorry following a random stop in Kent
- The German truck was heading west towards London when it was pulled over
- Lorry had markings of German haulage firm Gesuko, which is based in Hauneck
Emergency services found 18 illegal migrants in the back of a lorry following a random stop on a Kent motorway.
The German truck was pulled over on Wednesday night and Kent police confirmed 18 people were in the back of the lorry.
The men and women were assessed by paramedics on the side of the road before being taken away in minibuses and ambulances.
The German truck was pulled over on Wednesday night and Kent police confirmed 18 people were in the back of the lorry
The lorry was heading west towards London when it was pulled over by Kent police in a random stop
The lorry was heading west towards London when it was pulled over by Kent police in a random stop.
The vehicle had the markings of the German haulage firm, Gesuko, which is based in Hauneck.
Police, paramedics and Border Force were at the scene on the M26 near Brands Hatch in Kent and the air ambulance was also on standby.
The motorway slip road was closed to traffic while emergency services dealt with the group.
Operation Stack was in place on the M20 and large sections of the motorway were closed after delays at the Dover Channel crossings.
Police, paramedics and Border Force were at the scene on the M26 near Brands Hatch in Kent
The motorway slip road was closed to traffic while emergency services dealt with the group
An eyewitness said: ‘They were all sitting on the side of the road after being taken off the back of the lorry.
‘You could see some food in the back which they must’ve been eating on their journey.
‘The paramedics treated some on the side of the road, they were giving them loads and loads of water.
‘The men and women all looked either North African or Middle Eastern.’
The vehicle had the markings of the German haulage firm, Gesuko, which is based in Hauneck
The group were assessed at the scene before being handed into the care of Home Office Immigration Enforcement
The M26 links Dover to the M25 London orbital motorway.
A spokesman for Kent police said: ‘Kent Police was called at 10pm on Wednesday 13 March 2019 to concerns that a number of people were in the trailer of a lorry travelling on the London bound M26.
‘Officers stopped the vehicle at a location close to junction 2a and detained 18 people, who have since been handed into the care of Home Office Immigration Enforcement.’