A PEOPLE smuggler who tried to bring in illegal immigrants was jailed.

Aleh Razinkou tried to bring in two Albanians into the UK via Newhaven.

The lorry driver was stopped at the port and quizzed by Border Force officers.

Inside the trailer on the Mercedes lorry they found a woman and a man hidden in sleeping bags behind the top bunk of the driver’s cab.

Both were strapped in place and were covered with bags and a mattress.

Investigators said their welfare was “low on the list of Razinkou’s priorities”.

Shocking pictures from inside the cab reveal the two adults in a dishevelled state.

They did not have leave to enter the country.

Razinkou, 52, of Belarus, had stashed the duo on board the ferry from Dieppe.

He was arrested on suspicion of assisting unlawful immigration.

At Lewes Crown Court he was jailed for two years after admitting a charge of facilitating a breach of immigration laws.

Border Force regional director Dean Oughton said: “This was an important detection. We will continue to ensure that people smugglers and traffickers, whose actions so often endanger others, face the full consequences of their crimes.”

Following Razinko’s arrest, the case was passed to Immigration Enforcement’s Criminal and Financial Investigation (CFI) team.

The CFI deputy director Dave Fairclough said: “People will draw their own conclusions about what drove Razinkou, who insisted he was not financially motivated, to commit this offence.

“Whatever his motivation, we can be confident that the welfare of his human cargo was low on his list of priorities.

“I hope this case sends a clear message that anyone involved with this kind of illegal activity will be caught and brought before the courts.”

In addition to the two year jail term, Razinkou was also disqualified from driving for three years.

Following the attempted smuggling incident, the Albanian couple were returned to France on the next ferry.

Anyone with information about suspected immigration abuse can contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 anonymously or visit

http://www.crimestoppers-uk.org.