Hoaxer causes arrest of six lorry drivers

February 1987

A hoaxer last week caused six lorry drivers with a Wexford firm to be arrested in Wales, in a move that cost the firm some £10,000 in immediate losses as well as inestimable damage to its reputation.

Welsh detectives are now checking on the source of the information which caused them to impound five lorries owned by the German-owned but Wexford-based transport firm, RMF Freight, at Fishguard on Sunday morning.

Four Irish people and two West Germans in charge of the trucks were detained for 36 hours under the British Prevention of Terrorism Act, but were released when nothing untoward was found in a detailed search of their vehicles.

The fleet was carrying computer parts, electrical goods and chemicals to several destinations in the UK and Europe at the time of interception by Welsh police. Special Branch detectives there would not comment on the situation on Tuesday, other than to say the lorry crews were released without charge.

The five lorries were detained shortly after 1 a.m. on Sunday. About 30 other vehicles had also made the crossing on the St Brendan ferry, but these were all disregarded by police.

RMF bosses are mystified as to why their vehicles were singled out, but police say they were searching for weapons, ammunition, and explosives, following a tip-off.

One of the men who was arrested and later released said this week that the Welsh officers appeared ‘full certain’ that their information was correct.

‘ They went through the lorries time after time, with sniffer dogs and all, and they just couldn’t believe they didn’t find anything,’ he said. ‘I’m just glad it’s over, and I’m looking forward to getting home again.’