http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1244183/Open-shut-case-Italian-border-guards-discover-illegal-immigrant-hiding-inside-suitcase-sneezed.htmlThis was the amazing sight that greeted Italian immigration police during routine spot check - a teenage boy hidden in a suitcase as he tried to illegally enter the country.
The 15-year-old Afghan boy was discovered curled into foetal position inside the case while his 17-year-old brother was hidden in the foot well covered with blankets.
Officers immediately arrested the Greek driver of the car, Alexandros Lepesiotis, 42, and charged him with illegally smuggling people into the country.
This Afghan illegal immigrant, 15, was discovered hiding in a zipped suitcase in the boot of a Peugeot 207 by Italian border guards
Desperate: This Afghan illegal immigrant, 15, was discovered hiding in a zipped suitcase in the boot of a Peugeot 207 by Italian border guards
The discovery was made at the Adriatic port of Bari, a well known entry point for people smugglers, on a ferry which had just arrived from Greece, the Sea Trade.
Officers pulled over Lepesiotis for a spot check in his Peugeot 207 and became suspicious of him as he reacted nervously when they began examining the car.
The boys told police they had paid €2600 to be smuggled into the country, raising the money by doing waiting jobs in Greece when they were told Lepesiotis would be willing to smuggle them into Italy.
Yesterday the teenagers were in care in the care of Bari social services while investigators tried to track their parents or decide whether they should be given asylum.
People smuggling: Police arrested the Greek driver of the car, Alexandros Lepesiotis
People smuggling: Police arrested the Greek driver of the car, Alexandros Lepesiotis
A Bari police police spokesman said:'We get thousands of people passing through the part every day and like any other immigration authority we do spot checks.
'We have found in the past people hiding in the boot or hiding in the foot well but we have never found anyone curled up and hidden in a suitcase. The poor boy looked so frightened when we found him.
'It just goes to show the desperate measures and the high prices people are willing to pay to be smuggled into Italy.
'This is just one success story but for this there are probably dozens who get through.'
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