Arrest made in connection with discovery of 14 people in shipping container in Co Wexford

A man in his 30s has been arrested by Gardaí in connection with the discovery of 14 individuals concealed in a shipping container at Rosslare Europort in Co Wexford on Monday, January 8.

An Garda Síochána announced that the male was arrested this afternoon, Wednesday, January 17, at Rosslare for an alleged offense under the Criminal Justice (Smuggling of Persons) Act, 2021, and was detained at a Garda Station in the southeast of the country under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984.

An Garda Síochána, who said the investigation is ongoing, noted that the evidence discovered will determine whether the incident was a case of human trafficking or people smuggling.

While both trafficking and smuggling involve the illegal transportation of humans, the transportation is for a different purpose.

People smuggling involves illegal immigrants making an illegal entry into Ireland. Illegal immigrants want to enter a destination country and often pay someone to facilitate their illegal entry.

Human trafficking, meanwhile, involves the recruitment, transportation and ultimately the exploitation of a victim, which can be for a number of reasons including labour exploitation, sexual exploitation, forced Criminality, or exploitation consisting of the removal of one or more of the organs of a person.

Last week, on January 10, An Garda Síochána confirmed that Wexford Garda Station had commenced a human trafficking investigation following the discovery of 14 people in a shipping container arriving in Rosslare Europort at approximately 3 am on January 8.

Gardaí said they were alerted by UK authorities in advance and a coordinated plan was put in place with emergency services in Wexford in anticipation of their arrival to the port.

The nine men, three women, and two girls were assessed by medical personnel and have been deemed to be in good health.

Gardaí attached to Wexford Garda Station, supported by the Garda National Immigration Bureau, began investigating all of the circumstances of this incident and were liaising closely with international counterparts through Europol in The Hague.

The ship’s crew was also assisting An Garda Síochána with these enquiries.

Anyone with any information in relation to this incident, no matter how insignificant it may appear, is asked to contact Wexford Garda Station 053-9165200, the Garda Confidential Line 1800 66 11 or any Garda Station.

The 14 people discovered in the shipping container were reportedly brought to an asylum centre in Dublin. However, it has since been reported that at least half of the group have fled State services.

The Irish Examiner reported on January 12 that Garda sources said an investigation has not been launched, as it is not illegal for the people to leave their State-provided accommodation.

The Department of Justice said it does not comment on individual cases, but added: “Where State accommodation is provided in such circumstances, no person is required to remain in that accommodation.”