A GANG of illegal immigrants from Afghanistan and Iran have been caught trying to smuggle their way to Worcestershire by hiding in a lorry full of tomatoes.

The 13 men – eight Afghans and five Iranians – were caught by UK Border Agency officers at the French port of Calais as they checked vehicles bound for Dover.

The Italian-registered lorry was en-route to Blackminster, near Evesham.

All of the men were removed from the trailer and handed over to the French Frontier Police before the lorry was allowed to continue on its journey to the UK.

Both the Italian driver and the haulage company may now each be liable for a fine of up to £26,000 – £2,000 for each stowaway – if they are unable to prove they took steps to secure the vehicle.

Carole Upshall, UK Border Agency director for south and Europe, said it was important to stay one step ahead of illegal immigration.

“Having UK Border Agency officers based in France and Belgium means we can check vehicles before they cross the channel and stop would-be illegal immigrants setting foot in the UK,” she said.

“Increasingly sophisticated and dangerous attempts are being made to try to smuggle people into Britain so our officers use hi-tech equipment, such as heartbeat detectors and carbon dioxide probes, as well as sniffer dogs, to find people hiding in vehicles.

“Our presence at the border is preventing immigrants from entering the UK and then heading for places such as, in this case, Evesham.”