Livestock wagon driver arrested and accused of smuggling Albanians from Northern Ireland on to UK mainland

The driver of a livestock wagon was in custody last night (THU) after allegedly smuggling 14 Albanians from Northern Ireland onto the British mainland.

Officials confirmed the arrest was made at Loch Ryan ferry port in Dumfries and Galloway, 80 miles south of Glasgow.

The Home Office said the 14 Albanian nationals were discovered ‘concealed in a livestock wagon in unsafe conditions’ on Wednesday.

It is understood the vehicle had arrived aboard a ferry from Belfast.

Details of the journey allegedly made by the migrants were unclear on Thursday night. 

However, routes from Ireland to the UK mainland have long been feared to be susceptible to people smuggling due to minimal border controls in the Common Travel Area.

Illegal migrants are also known to have exploited the lack of a hard border between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.

The 14 people found in the lorry are now thought to be free to lodge asylum claims or be considered for help under modern slavery laws.

Officials confirmed the arrest was made at Loch Ryan ferry port (pictured) in Dumfries and Galloway, 80 miles south of Glasgow 

It is understood the vehicle had arrived aboard a ferry from Belfast (file image) 

A Home Office spokesman said: ‘Irish national Patrick McKinney, 23, has been charged with 14 counts under section 25 of the Immigration Act and one count of culpable and reckless conduct in connection to the incident.

‘He remains in custody.’

Anthony Hilton, of the Home Office’s criminal and financial investigations unit said: ‘Our investigation remains ongoing, and we continue to carry out enquiries at pace.

‘We’re doing everything we can to stay ahead of the people smugglers who exploit our borders and put the lives of desperate people on the line for financial gain.’