Two Vietnamese girls were freed by Border Force officers after being hidden by a driver in the back of his lorry when it arrived in the country’s busiest port.
The teenagers, who are thought to be 16 years old, were discovered in the cab of the vehicle when it was scanned upon arrival in Dover.
Two Vietnamese children were found hidden in a lorry cab. Picture: ITN Productions – Dover 24/7: Britain’s Busiest Port
In footage shared with KentOnline ahead of tonight’s (July 13) episode of Dover 24/7: Britain’s Busiest Port, officer Robin revealed how the youngsters were hidden.
While searching the lorry for evidence against the driver, he lowered the concealment inside the cab, which showed a mattress had been cut to fit in the small compartment.
He told the camera that the two girls were lying on either side of it, top and tail, when it was closed and covered up.
If Border Force officers had spoken only to the driver, they would have been none the wiser, but it was picked up by the scanners which the lorry drove through on arrival.
Officer Robin said: “I have seen concealments like this cut out quite a few times, and it is normally Vietnamese young ladies like this.”
The driver was arrested, and it is understood that he pleaded guilty to offences and was sentenced to 30 months in prison.
Social services were called for the girls, who are believed to be victims of trafficking into the UK, and they were taken to a safe location to wait for an interpreter following the discovery.
Officer Robin added: “It upsets me a little bit because they are 16 years old; that is what they said. They are young, from Vietnam and do not know what has happened to them.
“We do not know if they are being brought over for sex trafficking or anything like that, which properly upsets me, especially as I have two young daughters myself.”
More than 7,000 children are thought to be trafficked in the UK each year, many of whom are exploited for sex trafficking, modern slavery and labour exploitation.
The driver was arrested. Picture: ITN Productions – Dover 24/7: Britain’s Busiest Port
Border Force officer Robin showing the concealment. Picture: ITN Productions – Dover 24/7: Britain’s Busiest Port
In recent months, Border Force has cracked down on people smuggling, and nine lorry drivers, who are prime targets for criminal gangs to recruit, have been arrested.
Dover 24/7: Britain’s Busiest Port takes a look behind the scenes of every aspect of the Port’s 24/7 operation and introduces viewers to the teams who keep travellers on the move.
Episode four airs on Channel 4 at 8pm today (July 13).