Pair plead guilty after 33 migrants found in lorry

Two men have pleaded guilty to immigration offences after more than 30 migrants were found in the back of a lorry at Dover.

Zahid Khan, 52, and Qazi Raziq, 51, were arrested after the 33 migrants were found when the vehicle was intercepted on 4 February this year, as it was about to leave the UK on a ferry to France.

Khan admitted two counts of conspiracy to assist unlawful immigration into the UK and Qazi Raziq pleaded guilty to one count, having changed their pleas to guilty on what was due to be the first day of their trial at Birmingham Crown Court.

The pair, who listened to the proceedings through an Urdu and a Pashto interpreter, are due to be sentenced at the same court on 1 October.

The migrants, of Indian, Pakistani and Bangladeshi nationality, were found during a joint investigation between the National Crime Agency and West Midlands Police.

After the defendants entered their guilty pleas, prosecution counsel Andrew Jackson said this was acceptable to the Crown.

Raziq's role appeared to have been "at the invitation of the other defendant" and he provided practical support to Khan, Jackson said.

Khan, of Sheldon Heath Road, was told by Judge Peter Carr he would remain in custody until sentencing.

Raziq, of Herrick Road, was permitted to remain on bail with conditions that include not contacting his co-defendant and abiding by a curfew.

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