Romanian charged after young children found hidden in lorry at UK port

Children as young as 12 were part of a group of 21 would-be migrants hidden in a refrigerated lorry carrying sparkling water at a south England port.

The 11 children are thought to be from Vietnam and were found by UK border guards at the port of Newhaven.

The incident took place last Thursday but news of it was reported only yesterday.

A Romanian man, believed to be the lorry driver, has been charged with assisting illegal entry into the UK and a criminal investigation is under way.

Andrut Duma, 29, appeared before magistrates on Saturday. He is due to appear at Lewes Crown Court on November 26 for immigration offences.

Initial reports said 15 children had been found, but the figure was rounded down, the Home Office said.

Seventeen of the group said they were between 12 and 17 years olf, but after checks only 11 were confirmed to be minors, a spokesman told the BBC.

A spokesman for East Sussex County Council said the children had been transferred into foster care or supported housing. None required medical treatment but one has since fled.

Two adult members of the group – a man, 18, and woman, 27 –were deported from the UK.

The other eight adults, reportedly between 21 and 28 years old, must report to the Home Office on a regular basis while their cases are assessed.

Vietnam consistently ranks as one of the top countries for victims of trafficking, abuse and modern day slavery in the UK, surveys have found.

Typically these victims end up in manicure bars or the drug trade. They are also vulnerable to exploitation in the sex industry.

Last year, Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner Kevin Hyland said more needed to be done to clamp down on businesses such as manicure centres, which left young girls in particular at risk. Many are children.

The events of the past week were not the first time a Romanian national has been accused of trafficking Vietnamese children.

In July, a Romanian student tried to hide a boy, 16, in a suitcase in the boot of his car. He had agreed to smuggle the Vietnamese child into the UK for $233 (Dh856) after they met at a French bus station, but was caught by authorities at the port of Dover.

The youngster was found in a critical condition and rushed to hospital. Police said he was lucky to survive.

Andrei Iancu, 20, was sentenced to 18 months in prison for trying to smuggle the teenager into the UK.