The laws would impose fines of up to £2,000 per immigrant and would involve the confiscation of truckers' vehicles pending payment.

Representatives of the haulage industry have described the move as "gesture politics" and say those hit would be innocent drivers hoodwinked by organised crime gangs responsible for the trade.

Immigration minister Mike O'Brien: "There is far too much laxity by lorry drivers"

Home Office immigration minister Mike O'Brien says lorries carrying illegal immigrants would be impounded under the new legislation.

'Rigs' would not be released until the driver or owner paid, or proved they could pay within a reasonable time, the £2,000 fine for each immigrant on board.

Unwanted guests

Mr O'Brien said: "An estimated 8,000 illegal immigrants have come into the country in the back of lorries during the year.

Many lorry drivers resent the inference that they are conniving with the illegal immigrants

"It must stop. We asked drivers to check loads and they have not all done so.

"This is why we need a tough new regime to clamp down on irresponsible hauliers."

One container had 100 people hidden in the back. Under the new laws the driver or his employer would face a bill for £200,000.

Mr O'Brien said the UK taxpayer ended up footing the bill for illegal immigrants who claim political asylum.

Global problem

Illegal immigration is a global problem but the European Union, with its vast land and sea boundaries and prosperous economy, is especially vulnerable.

Thousands of illegal immigrants, from eastern Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia, have been intercepted as they head for Italy, France, Germany or the UK.

On New Year's Day a party of 21 stowaways - from Pakistan, Rwanda and Iraq - were arrested by Greek police in the Aegean Sea as they headed for Italy.

Mr O'Brien pointed out foreign-registered vehicles and drivers would also be caught under the legislation and, as usual, ignorance of the law would be no defence.

'Shut the back-door'

Mr O'Brien said: "The government is determined to close off this back-door entry to the UK and we intend to legislate shortly."

The Home Office is still negotiating with the Road Haulage Association over how the legislation would be implemented.

Road Haulage Association spokesman Daniel Hodges: "A minority of drivers are turning a blind eye"

A spokesman for the association said: "At precisely the time the government has dropped legislation targeting cowboy hauliers and the dangerous 'death trucks' they operate, because of lack of parliamentary time, they are prepared to target innocent hauliers innocently bringing stowaways into the country.

"Somebody in the government has a rather perverse sense of priorities."

'Crackpot idea'

Geoff Dossetter, of the Freight Transport Association, said: "This scheme won't make a scrap of difference to what's undoubtedly a serious problem.

"We get the feeling this is bit of gesture politics by the Home Office because the minister has to be seen to be doing something."

He described it as "preposterous, ludicrous and crackpot".

Mr Dossetter said the government should be pressing the authorities on the continent to improve security at Channel ports and lorry parks.