Four jailed after illegal immigrants travelled to M6 services in lorry
Four men have been jailed after being caught at Hilton Park Services on the M6 smuggling two illegal immigrants into the country.
Hiwu Ali, 40, Ismael Akdaci, 38, Constantin Morariu, 42, and Ioan-Sorin Moldovan, 29, all pleaded guilty to conspiracy to assist illegal entry into the country after two illegal immigrants travelled to the UK hidden in the cab of a lorry.
The pair took a selfie as they arrived in Portsmouth hidden in the cab of the lorry being driven by Morariu on February 12 this year, Stafford Crown Court heard on Monday.
Morariu, of no fixed address, then drove to Hilton Park Services on the M6 between Junction 10a and Junction 11 in Essington where he met Akdaci and Ali, from Coventry, an Moldovan, of no fixed address.
The four men were then arrested by police who also found £14,000 in Moldovan's car and £1,000 in the lorry.
Mr Paul Mitchell, prosecuting, said: "The case relates to a plot to arrange entry to the UK of two illegal immigrants, two men who had no right to be in the country.
"They were brought here on February 13 in a lorry being driven by Morariu."
A day before he was arrested Morariu was in northern France driving towards Lower Normandy, Mr Mitchell said.
