Wednesday 28 October 2026Compiled from published reports. Every claim links to its source.

Ireland Crime

Every case followed from the first report to the sentence, or to where the reporting stopped.

Case No. 6747People smuggling (alleged) · Co. Wexford · 8 Jan 2024

Man arrested over 14 migrants found in container at Rosslare Europort

On 8 January 2024, at about 3am, 14 people were found hidden in a refrigerated container on a lorry at Rosslare Europort, Co Wexford, after they cut a hole in it to breathe. The group was nine men, three women and two girls, and one report says they were mainly Kurdish nationals while another says they were mainly from Iran and Iraq; they were taken to the Citywest Transit Hub in Dublin. Gardaí were alerted by UK authorities and are investigating with the Garda National Immigration Bureau and Europol, and have not yet determined whether the case is human trafficking or people smuggling. On 17 January 2024, gardaí arrested a man in his 30s in Co Wexford, whose nationality and name are not given, and he is being held at a Garda station in the southeast on an alleged offence under the Criminal Justice (Smuggling of Persons) Act 2021, which is the latest development.

  1. Reported10 Jan
  2. Arrested17 Jan
    2 reports
  3. Charged
  4. In court
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • Gardaí launched an investigation after 14 people were found in a refrigerated container on a lorry at Rosslare Europort.
  • The group was nine men, three women and two girls, described as 12 adults and two children.
When
  • The container was discovered at 3am on Monday, 8 January 2024, and emergency services responded in the early hours.
  • On Wednesday, 17 January 2024, gardaí arrested a man in his 30s in Co Wexford as part of the investigation.
Where
The container was at Rosslare Europort, Co Wexford, having travelled from Zeebrugge in Belgium according to one report, or from France according to another.
Cause
The migrants cut a hole in the container to breathe during the journey, as they were struggling to breathe.
Investigation
  • Gardaí were alerted in advance by UK authorities, and one of those inside reportedly phoned UK police.
  • Wexford Garda Station, supported by the Garda National Immigration Bureau and Europol, is investigating, and the ship's crew are assisting gardaí.
  • An early report called it a human trafficking investigation, but gardaí have not yet determined whether it is human trafficking or people smuggling.
  • The man is understood to be held on suspicion of facilitating the smuggling operation.
Other details
  • The 14 people were assessed by medical personnel and deemed to be in good health before being taken to the Citywest Transit Hub in Dublin.
  • The migrants were described as primarily Kurdish nationals in one report and as primarily from Iran and Iraq in another.
  • According to sources, as many as eight of the 14 people have since left the accommodation centre and their whereabouts are unknown.
Charges
The man is held at a Garda station in the southeast on an alleged offence under the Criminal Justice (Smuggling of Persons) Act 2021, and is detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984.
30 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatGardaí launched a human trafficking investigation after 14 people were found in a refrigerated trailer on a lorry in Rosslare Europort. (irishmirror.ie)
  • what14 people were smuggled into Ireland hidden in a freight container. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatNine men, three women and two girls were in the container. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whereEmergency services rushed to the terminal building at the port. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whereThe migrants were found in a refrigerated container that arrived at Rosslare Europort. (irishtimes.com)
  • whereThe 14 migrants were found in a refrigerated shipping container at Rosslare Europort. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whenEmergency services responded in the early hours of Monday. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whenThe investigation was launched after the migrants were discovered on the vessel, which came from Zeebrugge in Belgium. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe container was discovered at 3am on Monday, 8 January 2024. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whenGardaí arrested a man in his 30s on Wednesday, 17 January 2024, at Rosslare. (irishmirror.ie)
  • causeThe migrants were forced to cut a hole in the container to breathe on their journey from Zeebrugge, Belgium. (irishmirror.ie)
  • causeThe migrants had been forced to cut a hole in the container to breathe while being transported from France. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationGardaí were alerted in advance by UK authorities. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationGardaí at Wexford Garda Station, supported by the Garda National Immigration Bureau, are investigating all the circumstances of the incident. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationGardaí are liaising with international counterparts through Europol in The Hague. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationThe ship's crew are assisting gardaí with their enquiries. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationGardaí announced the arrest of a man in his 30s as part of their investigation. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationThe man is understood to be held on suspicion of facilitating the smuggling operation. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationInvestigators are working to establish whether the incident relates to human trafficking or people smuggling. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationThe investigation is led by Wexford gardaí with help from the Garda National Immigration Bureau and international police forces, including Europol. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationGardaí have not yet determined whether the incident is human trafficking or people smuggling. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationInvestigations into the incident are continuing. (irishmirror.ie)
  • chargeThe suspect is held at a Garda station in the southeast in relation to an alleged offence under the Criminal Justice (Smuggling of Persons) Act 2021. (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeThe man was arrested for an alleged offence under the Criminal Justice (Smuggling of Persons) Act, 2021. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherThe 14 migrants were 12 adults and two children. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherThe 14 people were assessed by medical personnel and deemed to be in good health. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherThe migrants were struggling to breathe and had cut a hole in the side of the container to let in air. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe migrants were taken to the Citywest Transit Hub in Dublin after their discovery. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherAccording to sources, as many as eight of the 14 people have since left the accommodation centre and their whereabouts are unknown. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherThe man is detained at a Garda station in the southeast of the country under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984. (irishmirror.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 18 Jan2024
    Arrestedirishmirror.ie, first report
    Man arrested following discovery of 14 migrants in refrigerated container

    Reports the arrest of a man in his 30s on 17 January 2024 under the Criminal Justice (Smuggling of Persons) Act, 2021, and that the migrants were found in a refrigerated container at Rosslare Europort on 8 January. No existing case covers this incident.

    suspect, 30s, male
  2. 17 Jan2024
    Arrestedirishtimes.com, follow-up
    Man arrested by gardaí investigating Rosslare smuggling case

    First report of the arrest of a man in his 30s over the Rosslare Europort smuggling of 14 people found in a freight container. No existing case covers this incident.

    suspect, 30s, male
  3. 10 Jan2024
    Reportedirishmirror.ie, follow-up
    Gardaí launch human trafficking investigation after 14 migrants found in trailer

    Describes the case as a human trafficking investigation with Wexford Garda Station, the Garda National Immigration Bureau and Europol involved, and gives the group's make-up and journey. It reports no arrest.