Search for stowaways who ‘bolted’ from truck

FIVE refugees ran from the back of a truck after stowing away in a ship which landed in Rosslare in Co. Wexford.

The five refugees, all believed to be adult males, ‘bolted’ when the startled truck driver opened the truck’s doors in Co. Laois on Thursday evening.

It is believed the ship they stowed away on originated in Spain, and then travelled to Rosslare via Cherbourg in France.

The men fled the truck in the Straboe area on the outskirts of Portlaoise. The truck driver had stopped the vehicle at 6.50pm and when he opened the doors of the trailer several people ‘bolted’ past him. Investigating gardaí, who say they are concerned about the welfare of the people involved, began searching the area once the matter was reported.

The Garda helicopter was utilised in the search for what is believed to be five men. The nationality of the individuals is not clear.

The truck had travelled to Laois from Rosslare Harbour in Co. Wexford, a distance of 125km.

A senior source said: ‘It is our understanding that the five men left from Spain, via Cherbourg in France and then landed in Rosslare port.

‘They then stowed away in a lorry, unbeknownst to the driver.

‘They are being searched for. But gardaí are not treating them as criminals. Officers want to ensure they are okay primarily.’

It is believed the people who fled the truck are refugees who gained access to the trailer without the knowledge of the driver. The investigation into the matter is ongoing.

Meanwhile, Revenue officers seized €100,000 in cash and around €150,000 worth of cigarettes and alcohol in Laois and Dublin Airport this week.

The Special Crime Task Force recovered drugs worth an estimated €33,000 in Dublin yesterday morning. In an intelligence-led operation, cannabis resin was found after the search of a house in the north inner city and a man in his 50s was arrested.

He last night remained detained at Mountjoy Garda station under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act 1996.

And on Tuesday in Co. Laois, Revenue seized a significant haul of cigarettes and alcohol.

It added in a statement: ‘On Tuesday, Revenue officers seized over 192,000 unstamped cigarettes, 10kgs of tobacco and over 1,960 litres of alcohol when they carried out a search, under warrant, of a house in Durrow, Co. Laois.

‘The detections were made with the assistance of Revenue detector dogs Elvis and Stella and were part of a joint intelligence-led operation involving Revenue’s Customs Service and An Garda Síochána.

‘The seized tobacco products, branded “Marlboro”, “Winston”, “NZ”, “Camel”, “Kent” and “Excellence”, have an estimated retail value of €109,000, representing a potential loss to the Exchequer of €89,000.

‘The alcohol products have an estimated retail value of over €41,000 with a potential loss to the Exchequer of €31,000.’

Had travelled to Laois from Rosslare