The Irish Road Hauliers' Association has warned members making channel ferry crossings to be more vigilant after a number of refugees were discovered in trailers that had been searched and found empty before they left the Continent. "In the past two months we have had up to 10 members affected by this. It is most common in Calais," said Mr Gerry McMahon, president of the IRHA.
If British immigration officials in Dover find refugees aboard a trailer, even if it has been searched and found to be empty by the French authorities, the truck is seized and the haulier is fined £2,000 per refugee.
"These fines could put a haulage company out of business. If it is a small company or owner/driver, there is no way you could pay a fine if 10-12 people were found on board," said Mr McMahon.
The IRHA believes the trucks are especially vulnerable when left unattended on ferries between France and Britain.
The French authorities do not issue documentation verifying that they have searched a trailer and found it empty. Such papers would assist drivers questioned in Dover.
Fitzpatrick International Transport, of Co Monaghan, recently paid an £8,000 sterling fine after four refugees were found during a routine search in Dover.
"For insurance reasons, nobody is allowed to stay in the lorry on the ferry in case of accident. In our case, French immigration checked and passed the lorry in Calais, and in Dover UK immigration did a spot check and found four males in their 20s concealed in the trailer. The driver was put out of the lorry, it was seized and I got a phone call from him at 3 a.m.," explained Ms Mary Fitzpatrick.
Now Ms Fitzpatrick will only take work in the 32 counties. "We cannot take the risk of having another lorry impounded," she said.
The IRHA is instructing members to document each search of their vehicles and to get the notes witnessed. "This is very important because we can use the documents in an appeals process. The pressure should be put on the authorities to deal with this, not the hauliers. We are not immigration officials and fines will not resolve this problem," Mr McMahon said.