Four illegal immigrants from Afghanistan were on the run in Moray last night after smuggling themselves into the country on a lorry.
It is understood six people were discovered inside the truck shortly after it arrived in the region from the continent.
The vehicle is believed to have to have parked up in the early hours of yesterday morning close to the Baxters plant at Fochabers.
Police detained two of the immigrants – but the other four remained at large last night despite a large-scale manhunt.
A police spokesman said: “We were alerted to a suspicious incident in the Fochabers area whereby a number of foreign nationals made off from an HGV.
“Two individuals have been detained and a thorough search of the area is currently underway to trace four remaining people.
“We are appealing for information from members of the public, who are asked to contact police with any sightings of anything suspicious.”
Staff at Christies Chemist in Fochabers High Street said a foreign man who did not speak English came into the shop briefly around mid-morning, but left without buying anything.
It is understood the same man may have also gone into a supermarket in the village and tried to change euros into pounds.
Locals reported seeing police cars travelling through Fochabers every 10 minutes yesterday morning as they searched for the Afghans.
Officers on foot also called at several addresses in the village to ask if anything suspicious had been seen and searched along the banks of the River Spey.
Sheila Gray, from the Fochabers Ice Cream Parlour, praised the police for letting her know what was happening.
She said: “I was very impressed that a policewoman came round really early in the morning and told us what the situation was.
“She said to call 999 if we spotted anything out of the ordinary.”
However, other businesses complained that they had not been told more.
One woman said: “A police officer came in and asked if anybody foreign had been inside and told us to report anything suspicious.
“But I wish we had been told more because, although we always lock up at night, we would have made sure to be extra careful.”
Another shop owner questioned why the Afghans had travelled all the way to Moray.
She said: “You would have thought they’d have tried to get off the lorry earlier.
“The chances of not being caught would be much higher in a more multicultural area where they could blend in more easily.
“That’s not a racist comment, it’s just a practical observation.”