South of France: More than 30 Pakistanis discovered in trucks

In traffic control in southern France, more than 30 Pakistanis were discovered hiding in a truck. The public prosecutor's office in Nice reported that they were tracked down at a toll booth near La Turbie near the Italian border during a routine check.

The Pakistanis were handed over to the Italian authorities. Among them are two minors at the age of 14 and 15 years have been, as it says in a TV feature of the channel France Info. "The people in the truck were crowded," said police commissioner Jean Gazan, head of a unit that deals with illegal immigration.

The driver of the truck, also from Pakistan, was arrested. According to the prosecutor, investigators are now to examine whether smuggling networks and clients are behind the incident. If this is not the case, the driver of the truck will immediately be brought before a criminal judge and charged with aiding and abetting illegal immigration.

Case Essex: Suspected smuggling of people

Only a few days ago an illegal entry into Europe by truck had come to a deadly end. On the night of October 23, in an industrial area east of London, the bodies of 31 men and eight women were discovered in a truck refrigerated container. According to current police evidence, the dead are Vietnamese citizens.

"We believe the victims are Vietnamese and are in contact with the Vietnamese government," the British police said. There is "direct contact" with some families in Vietnam and the UK. The British investigators had initially considered the victims to be Chinese.

The truck driver from Northern Ireland was arrested and is in custody. The 25-year-old is charged with homicide, conspiracy for trafficking and money laundering.

A spokeswoman for the Vietnamese government said Vietnam is calling on countries in the region to step up cooperation in the fight against trafficking.

On Friday, the authorities arrested two people on suspicion of smuggling in the Vietnamese province of Ha Tinh, which is claimed to have caused the death toll. The suspects are accused of being involved in the case. Their business model is to organize the departure and the "illegal stay" abroad for other people.