BERLIN (AP) — Police in the northern German port city of Cuxhaven have stopped dozens of migrants from stowing away on freighters heading to Britain in recent months.

The local daily Cuxhavener Nachrichten reported Friday that Germany's border police have been monitoring the phenomenon since last fall. It quoted police spokesman Holger Jureczko saying the young men, mostly from Albania and Kosovo, had repeatedly tried to climb over security fences to reach trucks being loaded onto freighters.

Three Albanians who had traveled to England illegally were sent back to Cuxhaven on Monday.

Jureczko said police and port operators had increased security measures, and authorities believe they are apprehending the majority of illegal migrants now.