Gardaí Launch Investigation After 14 Migrants Found in a Container at Irish Port

14th January 2024

A human trafficking investigation has been launched by An Garda Síochána following the discovery of 14 undocumented migrants in Rosslare Europort, Wexford in the early hours of the morning on Monday 8^th January.

The migrants, made up of nine men, three women, and two children of Kurdish, Vietnamese, and Turkish nationalities, were found in a shipping container aboard a ferry of Belgian origin after UK authorities alerted Gardaí ahead of its arrival in Ireland based on a call for help they had received from migrants who had broken a hole in the container due to a lack of oxygen.

Gardaí have reported that the detainees have been assessed by medical personnel and are thankfully deemed to be in good health. They have since been taken to Dublin for processing.

The investigation conducted by the Garda National Immigration Bureau, alongside Gardaí from the Wexford Garda Station, is being aided by the Netherlands-based European Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation (Europol) and the ferry’s crew.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Wexford Garda Station on 053-9165200, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 66 11, or any Garda Station.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar responded to the incident saying, “Our first response is always a humanitarian one – to check that they are alive and in good health.”

“Our next step is to facilitate voluntary return – their return home if they’re willing to go home.”

“If they choose to apply for asylum, they are legally entitled to do that, and we’ll try and process the application as quickly as possible.”

Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan said that more must be done to stop trafficking, expressing that, “It is dangerous and a risk to the lives of those who are put on or go onto those trucks.”

He also added, “We have to do what we can to reduce it, but you cannot completely eliminate it. We’ve seen that with the UK Government and France.”

Minister of Justice Helen McEntee has said, “We know from past experience that similar situations have led to tragic fatalities. This was an extremely hazardous undertaking, and it is only fortuitous that the same did not happen yesterday.”

References

Reporter, S. (2024) ‘fortunate’ there were no deaths after 14 people found in Lorry, minister says, Limerick Live. Available at: https://www.limerickleader.ie/news/national-news/1391133/fortunate-there-were-no-deaths-after-14-people-found-in-lorry-minister-says.html (Accessed: 14 January 2024).

OKeefe, C. (2024) 14 migrants found in refrigerated trailer at Rosslare Harbour, Extra.ie. Available at: https://extra.ie/2024/01/09/news/irish-news/rosslare-harbour-migrants (Accessed: 14 January 2024).

Human trafficking investigation launched after 14 people found in shipping container at Irish port: Irish america (2024) Irish America. Available at: https://www.irishamerica.com/2024/01/human-trafficking-investigation-launched-after-14-people-found-in-shipping-container-at-irish-port/ (Accessed: 14 January 2024).

Gardainfo (2024) Human trafficking investigation, rosslare – 8th January 2024, Garda.ie. Available at: https://www.garda.ie/en/about-us/our-departments/office-of-corporate-communications/press-releases/2024/january/human-trafficking-investigation-rosslare-8th-january-2024.html (Accessed: 14 January 2024).