Dutch Ship Container Yields Grim Cargo

The bodies of four men believed to have been stowaways trying to get to Europe from North Africa have been found in a shipping container in the port city of Rotterdam, Dutch police said. The men, who have not yet been identified, are believed to have hidden in the container in the Moroccan port of Casablanca. The container, carrying coriander, was bound for Rotterdam via Spain, a journey taking at least 13 days. Police believe that the men - who had food, drink and tools with them - tried in vain to get out of the container when it reached Spain and died there because of the intense summer heat. "The container stayed in Spain for a few days where the high temperature probably proved fatal for the men," Rotterdam police said. The bodies were found when the container was unloaded at Rotterdam port on Friday.