Migrants trapped inside a concealed compartment in a refrigerated van “banged and screamed” for help because they were “being starved of oxygen”, a court heard. Lewes Crown Court heard crew members on the Seven Sisters ferry had to use an axe to free seven migrants from the vehicle, which was travelling to Newhaven port from Dieppe. The driver of the van, Anas Al Mustafa, is on trial accused of trying to smuggle the migrants into the UK in the back of the specially adapted van on February 16.
The 43-year-old, of Heather Crescent, Swansea, denies the charge. In his opening statement, Nick Corsellis KC for the prosecution said the ferry's journey was "uneventful" until 9.10am when a patrolling crew member heard "banging and screaming" coming from a van parked on the deck.
Mr Corsellis said crew reacted with "admirable speed". Climbing onto the cab of the lorry they found a "dummy unit" which hid the entrance to a compartment that concealed seven human beings, he said. Mr Corsellis said the migrants called for help because they were being "starved of oxygen and suffering from dehydration".
Crew members had to use an axe to free the migrants from the concealed compartment, which the court heard was approximately two metres wide, 196 cm high, with a 36 cm width. The migrants had to stand up for the journey, Mr Corsellis said, and there was no water for them. He said the heat created in the concealed unit created a "highly dangerous situation" and that a number of people ha.