Article content

Four stowaways who were discovered last week inside a shipping container at the Port of Montreal have applied to remain in Canada as refugees.

The asylum seekers, who are from Georgia, appeared before the Immigration and Refugee Board on Monday and made their request.

We apologize, but this video has failed to load.

tap here to see other videos from our team. Try refreshing your browser, or Four shipping container stowaways seek asylum in Canada Back to video

A publication ban was placed on details that could reveal their identities or why they came to Canada.

The four men, ages 30 to 40, were suffering from dehydration when they were discovered last Thursday by a security guard who heard them calling for help. The stowaways had drilled holes in the top of the container and were waving a flag to attract attention.

“They were discovered haphazardly,”said Line Guibert-Wolff, a media relations officer with the IRB. “As a security agent was passing by, he heard voices and cries for help. He opened the container and saw that their health was compromised.”

The container had been set aside for inspection because it contained a vehicle that needed to be searched before it was allowed to enter the country.