A Moray community are at the centre of a major police operation to locate four men who are believed to have entered the UK illegally on board a lorry that arrived in the region from the continent.
It is believed that six people were on board the lorry when it was parked close to the Baxter’s factory in Fochabers in the early hours of Friday morning.
Two of the illegal immigrants – who are believed to be of Afghanistan origin – were detained by police but four more were still on the run from police last night.
Immigration officials face a constant battle trying to halt illegal immigrants travelling into the UK from France hidden on board HGV’s – however, it is highly unusual for desperate groups trying to find a better life in this country to remain on board a vehicle all the way to Scotland.
Confirming that they were seeking help from the public in locating the four individuals in Moray, a Police Scotland spokesman said: “We were alerted to a suspicious incident in the Fochabers area whereby a number of foreign nationals made off from an HGV.
”Two individuals were detained and a thorough search of the area is currently under way to trace the four remaining people.
”We are appealing for information from members of the public who we ask to contact the police with any sightings or anything suspicious.”
It is thought that one of the men may have been spotted at a local chemist in the town where witnesses say a man who did not speak English entered briefly on Friday morning but did not purchase anything or remain in the shop for long. The same man is thought to have gone into a local supermarket and attempted to change Euros into pounds.
Several homes in the area received calls from police officers asking if they had witnessed anything unusual, while many more police vehicles than normal were patrolling the village throughout the day.
Anyone who may have information is asked to contact Police Scotland on 101.