16 found in container heading for Ireland
Sixteen people have been found sealed inside a container on a ferry bound for the Irish port of Rosslare, shipping operator Stena Line said yesterday.
The discovery draws renewed attention to the issue of illegal immigration and human trafficking in western Europe, after 39 Vietnamese were found dead in a container in Britain last month.
And on Tuesday, the crew of a cargo ferry run by DFDS Seaways found 25 migrants in a refrigerated container on a boat sailing to Britain and forced the vessel to return to port.
The 16 individuals in the latest discovery were found aboard a Wednesday night sailing of the Stena Horizon ship from Cherbourg in northern France.
“One of our employees during a routine inspection discovered 16 people in a sealed container on the vehicle deck,” Stena Line chief communications officer Ian Hampton said in a statement.
“All the individuals are reported to be in good health and have been moved to a private passenger lounge on the ship.”
The ship was due to arrive in port mid-afternoon yesterday, according to the firm, and immigration and security officials have been alerted to meet them.
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