Lorry driver jailed for bid to smuggle people out of the UK

Alexandru Fuiorea was jailed for three years and four months

A lorry driver has been jailed for trying to smuggle 17 people out of the UK.

Alexandru Fuiorea, 29, from Luton, was stopped at the Medway services of the M20 in Kent on 4 October.

The group of Tunisian, Moroccan, Bangladeshi, Afghan, Indian and Pakistani nationals were found in his lorry, the National Crime Agency said.

Fuiorea, a Romanian national, was sentenced to three years and eight months at Maidstone Crown Court.

He had pleaded guilty to breaching UK immigration law at a hearing on 18 December.

The trailer contained only the 17 people

Fuiorea, of Twyford Drive, Luton, had also admitted possessing cannabis and was sentenced to a month for that offence, to run concurrently.

NCA branch commander Andy Noyes said: "The organised criminals behind people smuggling move migrants across borders in both directions. This threatens the security of both the UK and France, while putting lives at risk.

"Enablers like Alexandru Fuiorea make these dangerous trips possible, in exchange for a fee."

So far this year, 2,041 people have crossed the England Channel illegally, according to Home Office figures.

It said 104 people in four small boats had crossed on Friday.

On Wednesday 209 people, the largest number in a single day so far in 2021, were intercepted by officials.

Follow BBC South East on Facebook, on Twitter, and on Instagram. Send your story ideas to [e-mail].