A group of 13 illegal migrants found in a container at a busy port identified themselves as Eritrean nationals.
They were discovered at Purfleet Docks at around 8.40am yesterday morning.
A Home Office spokesman has now confirmed the group consisted of men, women and four minors.
All 13 said they originally came from the East African country of Eritrea.
The spokesman said: "The adults will be questioned by Home Office officials and the minors will be transferred to the care of social services.
"All the cases will be dealt with according to the immigration rules."
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