A video circulating on social media appears to show four suspected migrants emerging from the roof of a lorry operated by Algarve Removals, a company specialising in international removals between Spain, Portugal, and the UK.
However, contrary to claims accompanying the footage, the incident did not take place in the Algarve or involve a lorry travelling from Portugal. The video was filmed near Maldon, in Essex, shortly before 4pm BST on Monday, 3 August, after the vehicle had travelled from Málaga in southern Spain, via northern France.
Footage shows four people on top of the lorry as it is parked in a lay-by before they jump to the ground.
John Scott, director of Algarve Removals, said the vehicle had suffered “significant damage”, including a large hole in its roof, while the rear doors had remained sealed and secured.
“At this stage, I can share that we believe the individuals gained access to the trailer through the roof. The rear doors remained sealed and secured with a security locking device throughout,” he said.
The company believes the men cut their way into the vehicle while it was parked overnight at a secure truck stop near Rouen, around two hours south of Calais.
“The trailer did not stop from the point it left Rouen to arrive at our location,” Scott said.
The vehicle had also been inspected by French and UK Border Force officers in Calais, with no irregularities detected, according to the company.
Algarve Removals, which has been operating for more than 30 years and has a warehouse near the lay-by in Maldon, said it was working with police on the investigation.
“We would like to categorically confirm that we do not condone this and are deeply upset and frustrated this has happened to our company,” Scott said.
“The security of our vehicles is something we take extremely seriously at all times.”
The driver had stopped the lorry near the company’s warehouse because there was not enough room for it to enter the yard. The four men are believed to have emerged while the vehicle was waiting nearby.
Essex Police said a man in his 60s, who is presumed to be the vehicle’s driver, was initially arrested on suspicion of facilitating illegal immigration into the UK, but had since been released with no further action. The four suspected illegal migrants have not been detained, and their identities and nationalities have not been established.
The footage was also shared by Portuguese politician Rita Matias, who suggested it showed migrants travelling from Portugal. A UK parliamentarian had previously shared the same video.
Robert Jenrick, an MP for the right-wing Reform UK party, posted the footage with the caption: “3pm Essex. Are these the first migrants from Ceuta to reach our shores? A group of illegal migrants came out of the back of a lorry from southern Portugal, which reportedly travelled through Spain.”
The incident comes amid continued concern among transport operators over attempts by migrants to gain access to commercial vehicles travelling to the UK.
Scott said such attempts “remain a challenge across the transport industry”.
A Home Office spokesperson told journalists at the BBC that: “We are relentless in our pursuit of people-smuggling gangs and stand ready to respond to all methods, including lorries and other clandestine routes.”
“That’s why the Home Secretary has set out the most sweeping reforms to tackle illegal migration in modern times, removing incentives which draw people to the UK illegally and making it easier to remove and deport them.”
Source: BBC / DN
Photo credit: BBC
