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Two lorry drivers caught smuggling men into the UK, one of which admitted he'd have been paid £1,000 each for their arrival, have been jailed.
Macedonian national Isa Bushi was caught trying to smuggle two Albanian men into the country via Dover Eastern Docks on August 22.
Border Force officers stopped and searched his lorry, carrying a load of boots, when they discovered the duo in the top bunk of the driver's cab.
One of the individuals was in breach of a deportation order imposed on May 28 this year when he was removed from the UK to Albania.
In a second incident five days later, a lorry carrying a load of cleaning products being driven by Lithuanian national Sarunas Raudys was stopped.
It was searched and four men, three from Albania and a Kosovan national, were found hiding in the sleeping area behind the driver’s cabin.
Raudys and Bushi were both arrested on suspicion of assisting illegal entry into the UK and the investigations were passed to officers from Immigration Enforcement’s Criminal and Financial Investigation (CFI) team.
When interviewed, Bushi admitted that he would receive £1,000 for each man, which would be paid on arrival to the UK, and that he himself had suggested they hide in the bunk bed.
Raudys was unable to explain how the four men got into his cab.
Bushi appeared at Maidstone Crown Court on Wednesday, October 7 where he was jailed for 20 months, having pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing on August 24.
Raudys appeared at Canterbury Crown Court on Thursday, October 8 where he pleaded guilty.
He was immediately jailed for 27 months.
Home Secretary Priti Patel said: “Despicable incidents like these only benefit the organised criminals behind them.
"Our broken asylum system is a driver for this, which is why we are fixing it.
“Anyone involved in people smuggling can expect to be caught and jailed.”
One of the Albanian men found in Raudy’s lorry was returned to France.
The remaining men have outstanding applications which are being dealt with according to the immigration rules.
Anyone with information about suspected immigration abuse can contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 anonymously or visit crimestoppers-uk.org
