Driver arrested as ten ‘illegal immigrants’ are rescued from the back of a refrigerated lorry

Lorry driver is arrested as ten ‘illegal immigrants’ are rescued from the back of a refrigerated lorry after people heard them banging on the walls as it drove down the A24 in West Sussex

  • Ten suspected illegal immigrants rescued from the back of a refrigerated lorry
  • Italian registered lorry pulled over at Findon Valley in Worthing, Sussex, 6.45pm 
  • Sussex Police said lorry driver arrested on suspicion of immigration offences

A driver has been arrested after a group of ten suspected illegal immigrants were rescued from the back of a refrigerated lorry after people heard them banging on the walls.

The group were rescued when traffic police in Sussex stopped the truck on the A24 after receiving reports of a lorry containing people.

The Italian registered lorry, transporting green vegetables, was pulled over at Findon Valley in Worthing, West Sussex, at 6.45pm.

Sussex Police confirmed ten suspected illegal immigrants were escorted away by officers and checked over by paramedics. 

The group, who appear to be all male, will be handed over to the Border Force.

In a video of the incident crates of green vegetables are seen lining the lorry’s exit, with only a small hole in the centre. 

Individuals rescued from the lorry sit on a garden wall as police are seen searching their bags and offering them bottles of water.

The Italian registered lorry, transporting green vegetables, was pulled over at Findon Valley in Worthing, West Sussex, at 6.45pm

Sussex Police confirmed ten suspected illegal immigrants were escorted away by officers and checked over by paramedics

Sussex Police confirmed ten suspected illegal immigrants were escorted away by officers and checked over by paramedics

Officers are seen escorting two men away from the scene after examining them

Officers are seen escorting two men away from the scene after examining them

A spokesman for Sussex Police said the lorry driver has been arrested on suspicion of immigration offences.

The spokesman said: ‘Police stopped a lorry containing 10 people, suspected to be illegal immigrants on the A24 at Findon Valley just before 6.45pm.

‘They were checked over by paramedics and escorted away by police to be handed over to Home Office Immigration Enforcement and Border Force.

‘The driver was arrested on suspicion of immigration offences and taken to custody.’ 

Individuals rescued from the lorry sit on a garden wall as police are seen searching their bags and offering them bottles of water

Individuals rescued from the lorry sit on a garden wall as police are seen searching their bags and offering them bottles of water

In a video of the incident crates of green vegetables are seen lining the lorry's exit, with only a small hole in the centre

In a video of the incident crates of green vegetables are seen lining the lorry’s exit, with only a small hole in the centre