MADRID, May 17 (Xinhua) -- Civil Guards and local port police discovered 16 illegal immigrants attempting to stowaway on the ferry which crosses from the city of Bilbao in the north of Spain and the British port of Portsmouth, Spanish media reported Wednesday.
The discovery, which happened on Tuesday, is the largest made in the port of Bilbao in one single day and highlights how the city has become one of the main routes for Afghan, Syrian and Iraqi refugees attempting to enter Britain.
The numbers of illegal immigrants attempting to use Bilbao as a route to Britain has increased dramatically in recent months following the decision taken to dismantle the illegal refugee camp known as the "Jungle" which was situated just outside of the French port of Calias.
The regional newspaper El Correo reported that 2016 saw the discovery of 370 illegal immigrants attempting to reach Britain through the port of Bilbao, while the first four months of 2017 have already led to 149 discoveries, which is four times the number found between January to April last year.
The ferry which links Bilbao to Portsmouth sails two or three times a week and also has "roll-on, roll-off traffic" allowing immigrants the chance to hide inside container trucks bound for Britain.
Recent months have seen an average of four illegal immigrants discovered attempting to smuggle themselves aboard every departing ferry.
