UK Border Agency officers have stopped two would-be illegal immigrants from entering the UK at Plymouth port.

On 20 November, officers checking passengers on the ferry from Roscoff stopped a woman who was travelling on a Czech Republic passport which would have entitled her to entry to the UK as European Economic Area (EEA) national.

An inspection revealed that the woman’s passport was counterfeit and it was found that the passenger was in fact a 31-year-old Russian. She was refused entry to the UK and removed to France the same day.

Several days previously, on 14 November, a 35-year-old Albanian man was caught trying to use a counterfeit Bulgarian passport having stepped off the ferry from St Malo. He was also removed to France the same day.

Pete Jones, Assistant Director for the UK Border Agency in the South West, said:

“Some people go to great lengths to acquire convincing documents indicating they are a different person or nationality in an attempt to get into Britain.

"Our officers are working hard at the border in Devon and elsewhere to prevent illegal immigration and smuggling.”