Albanian teenage migrant tried to sneak into Britain from France inside a child’s coffin

An Albanian teenage migrant was caught trying to sneak into Britain from France by being screwed shut in a child’s coffin.  

The 17-year-old boy, who found during a routine search of a van, was curled up inside a small wooden casket which had its lid sealed. 

French border officers discovered the minor inside a coffin just 3ft 5in long, under 2ft wide and 2ft 5in high near Dunkirk.

The teenager, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, claimed he paid £9,000 for his passage to Britain in the Mercedes Sprinter van.

He told a court: ‘I got into the coffin at a motorway service station at Steenvoorde, northern France and then it was screwed down. 

French border officers discovered the minor inside a coffin just 3ft 5in long, under 2ft wide and 2ft 5in high

The minor claimed he paid £9,000 for his passage from France to Britain

‘I must have been inside for at least an hour by the time the van was stopped.’

The boy was found hidden among wooden boxes in the back and was then free after processing by French authorities. 

The van driver, Romanian Lucian-Radu Rizae, claimed he had no idea the stowaway was on board.

Rizae admitted receiving £4,000 to transport the coffin during a fast-track trial in Dunkirk and was given a six-month term.