Lorry smuggling gang smashed

POLICE in Spain have arrested 14 people after smashing a gang accused of smuggling Albanian migrants into Britain.

The gang helped them hide in lorries on ferries leaving the northern Spanish ports of Santander and Santurtzi. They were also hidden in rented motorhomes that were driven into France before crossing the Channel.

Detectives say the migrants were charged more than £5,000. The gang leader himself had tried to enter the UK illegally eight times over two years before deciding to settle in Spain.

Cannabis resin, cocaine and methamphetamines were seized as part of the police operation, which has resulted in the arrests of nine men and five women aged 19 to 51. Four are Albanian, seven Spanish, two Moroccan and another suspect is Colombian.

A spokesman for Spain’s Interior Ministry said the gang had a group of Spanish drivers on their books.