Romanian people smuggler faces jail after nine Afghans caught in Plymouth
A ROMANIAN man faces a long jail term after he was caught smuggling nine Afghans into Britain.
Mircea Sandu admitted illegally bringing in two families through Millbay docks in Plymouth
Mircea Sandu admitted illegally bringing in two families through Millbay docks in Plymouth, Devon, on a Brittany ferry from France.
Border guards found nine people, including four children, hidden in a lorry on board the Amorique ferry.
One of the children was a baby.
Border guards found nine people, including four children, hidden in a lorry
Sandu, 31, living in Spain, admitted facilitating illegal immigration into the UK on Sunday October 9.
They have been moved into temporary accommodation while their cases are progressed
Sandu, who is in custody, had no money and was paid by smugglers to run illegal immigrants into Britain, Plymouth Crown Court heard.
A judge was told it was his first run.
Brian Fitzherbert, defending, said:“He is facing a significant period in custody.”
Border guards found the Afghans hidden in a lorry on board the Amorique ferry
A Home Office spokesman confirmed the families were discovered in a vehicle at the ferry port.
He said:“They have been moved into temporary accommodation while their cases are progressed in line with the immigration rules.”
Sandu will be sentenced next month and is likely to be deported after serving his sentence.