Illegal immigrants 'fought for air'

The immigrants were discovered at Dover Eastern Docks

Twenty-five illegal immigrants only survived their journey from Calais to Dover by punching air holes through the sealed wooden crates in which they were packed, a court has been told.

The asylum seekers, from India, Turkey, Yugoslavia and Romania, had been crammed into two 8ft by 4ft boxes, Canterbury Crown Court heard.

The crates were then nailed shut and wrapped in black polythene.

This was a blatant case of people smuggling

Nigel Van der Bijl

Belgian Muzafer Prekopuca, 33, denies trafficking the immigrants into Dover Eastern Docks, in Kent, on 25 August.

When immigration officers opened the back of the hire van there was a "river" of condensation running along the floor, Nigel Van der Bijl, prosecuting, told the court.

"They noticed that the whole of the interior was covered in condensation," he said.

"There was a small river pouring from the vehicle and Mr Prekopuca said it was due to the air conditioning.

"One could see it was dripping wet."

Air holes

When officers examined the boxes they discovered crude holes in the wood.

"The people themselves must have done it in order to get air in and breathe properly," said Mr Van der Bijl.

Mr Prekopuca told police he had been offered a job delivering electrical motors to the UK by a Russian man he met in a cafe in Belgium.

But a document found in Mr Prekopuca's cab showed a Folkestone delivery address that does not exist, the court heard.

The trial continues.