Smuggling Human Cargo Is Big Business

PARIS — Truck drivers may soon face a hard blow to their wallets under a British proposal to stem the tide of illegal immigrants flooding the island nation, mostly from Eastern Europe.

Among West European countries, Britain has taken the lead in addressing illegal immigration. And since trucks are favorite vehicle of stowaways, truck operators are finding themselves in the crosshairs of enforcement.

The British Home Office is preparing legislation for Parliament to consider that would impose a 2,000-pound fine — about $3,300 — for each illegal immigrant found on a vehicle.

A Home Office spokesman said his agency is seeking the measure because Britain had seen “a sharp increase” in the number of illegal immigrants — rising to an estimated 8,000 in 1998.

Many of them are stowaways who hide in a trailer or elsewhere on a truck. Some have reached Britain with the help of smugglers, among them truckers who are willing to take the risk to pocket some extra income.

The number of truckers arrested for smuggling immigrants for money has increased, said the spokesman, who did not want to be identified. Those prosecuted and convicted have received long jail terms.

About 25% of the truckers at English Channel ports admitted that they had been approached by someone about carrying illegal immigrants or that they had been caught with them aboard their vehicle, Britain’s Freight Transport Association said. The figure is based on FTA interviews with drivers.

For the full story, see the March 15 print edition of Transport Topics. Subscribe today.