French hauliers hit by heavy fines as migrants seek to reach UK from Calais

Five years after Brexit came into force, tensions are mounting in Calais between French lorry drivers and the British authorities. Some companies are threatening to stop delivering to the other side of the border, while others fear they’ll soon be out of business. Every day, stowaways try to sneak onto trucks in an attempt to reach the UK. For each migrant stopped, the hauliers have to pay a fine, but these have become astronomical. Since last year, the amounts have increased five-fold to reach up to €12,000. At a time when hauliers are being squeezed for cash, the fines represent a substantial windfall for the British authorities. Last year, they collected almost €12 million from them. FRANCE 24’s Cécile Khindria, Juliette Lacharnay and Lauren Bain report.