Albanians pose as crew on gift-laden lorries

Albanian migrants are being smuggled into the UK with Christmas presents and festive goods by lorries to avoid the danger of winter Channel crossings by small boat.

People-smugglers are using Tiktok to advertise £18,000 deals where they arrange for migrants to be smuggled into the UK as “second drivers” in lorries bringing the goods into the UK.

The migrant takes the place of a registered second driver to travel across the Channel rather than use the conventional and riskier route of hiding in the back of a lorry.

One advert with a cartoon of a red double-decker bus and Union flag promised: “Every day we offer a journey as a second driver. Our last journey was successful... get in touch.”