TWO Turkish crewmen were removed from the UK after arriving at Newport docks on a cargo ship.

The two men, aged 40 and 39, arrived at Newport Docks from Egypt on Sunday, January 20 aboard a ship carrying a cargo of fertiliser.

During an operation involving the Border and Immigration Agency, HM Revenue and Customs and Gwent Police, officers became suspicious that the two men did not intend to return to the ship before it left the UK.

Police arrested the two men aboard the ship and they were detained at Newport Central police station.

The pair were removed from the UK on Tuesday on a flight to Istanbul.

A spokesman for the Border and Immigration Agency in Wales and the South West, said: "This incident shows that our immigration officers are on the front line of the fight against illegal entry to the UK.

"As well as carrying out the usual passport checks, our officers are extremely skilful at spotting suspicious passengers who try to circumvent UK Borders controls at our airports and ports."