‘We found that three potential slaves are hiding in a lorry in Surrey’

“We were found hiding three suspected victims of modern day slavery in a lorry,” the detailed f inspection James Essel said, describing the moment that their authorities entered the vehicle near a stretch of M25, as “hotspots” to find smuggling victims.

“One of them was a person who was tied to a hidden box and we had to free him.”

Three people were recently imprisoned for their share in smuggling of victims from Vietnam.

Cobam near the motorway is one of the most common areas for officers to take migrants and smuggled people – which they describe as “transit counties” for gangs coming from channel ports.

The BBC South East recently revealed how the identity of the people increased in the last year Attempt to ride on UK-bound vehicles At ports in France.

In this recent case, it is described how a tip-off at a service station inspired a sharp police response and recovery of smuggling victims.

From the anti -corruption unit in the Surrey police, DET Ch Inspes Ansel told BBC Radio Surrey, “We had two launders reported in which many were taken from the lories and were taken to another van and were taken to another van.

“We found one of the lorry still stands when they [officers] Entered the cab, they were found inside a man and a woman, hidden in the back, and then another man, found trapped in the top compartment, behind the cab in the interior, behind objects to hide her.

“The straps were so tight that they were actually to be cut by the authorities.

“They were placed there for a week and purely alive on bread and water.

“I have no doubt from his presence whether he was not eating too much in the last few days or a few weeks.”

Between January 2023 and January 2025, Surrey police said they registered 26 cases of people found in Laurie, or confirmed to join the “Laurie Drop”.

“The most common place we find that these are happening in cobum or clacket lane services,” said Ansel, Dett F Inspection.

“They remain a hotspot for the southeast for those who exit the lories, or are being removed from here, or put into other transport.

“The main reason, it is the main artery route from the ports, and Surrey is a transit county.

“They have come to the country and they can stop to move into another vehicle here, or to fill the fuel.”

Roadchef, which runs a clacket lane services at M25 in Surrey, stated that its sites had “zero tolerance” for any criminal or illegal activity and would work with relevant authorities “if needed”.

The spokesperson said: “Welfare, security and security of our customers, employees and visitors is our top priority.

“All our sites are monitored to help maintain a safe environment by CCTV and thermal imaging.”

Name, not his real name from Ha Tinh in Vietnam, was smuggled in Britain in a lorry and forced to work on a cannabis farm.

He recently told the BBC South East how he was Beaten, and forced to work There was no chance of running 19 hours each day. But he is not alone.

Official figures show that over 3,000 people coming from Vietnam last year referred to agencies as suspected slaves.

Charity ignoring, which runs a modern slavery helpline, said it was still making several calls about potential victims every year.

Charity Executive Director, Justin Carter said: “The demand for helpline is increasing, with about 1,000 calls and contacts per month.”

Last year 3,030 people were identified as potential modern slavery victims in the UK, who call the helpline.

The government said that it was increasing immigration enforcement to deal with criminal gangs behind modern slavery.

Houleers found to carry an illegal migrant can impose a fine of up to £ 10,000 for each “cladstine entrance”.

The government said that in the last 10 years, security was taken to smuggle security at ports in France and smuggling in freight.

But a Recent report by independent main inspector of border and immigration Said that the threat from the smuggling gang “remains high and is incredible”.

A spokesman for the home office said that the government is starting a new law to tighten the smuggling.

He said: “Border Force officials have discovered inhuman cases of migrants, which have been surrounded by lorry or heavy vehicles for many years.”