Investigation finds individuals paid up to £43k to reach UK from Vietnam (Image: NCA)
A major human trafficking network accused of transporting almost 1,000 migrants to Britain has been disrupted after coordinated arrests across the UK and Europe. National Crime Agency officers arrested three people on Monday as part of a coordinated operation with French police against an organized crime group involved in people smuggling of Vietnamese migrants to Britain in lorries and small boats.
NCA officers arrested a 25-year-old woman at an address in Wrexham, Wales, and a 25-year-old man was arrested in Newcastle-upon-Tyne on the morning of 30 March. The woman arrested on Monday is suspected of assisting the group by laundering money, while the man is believed to have facilitated the crime through lower members of the group.
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Many individuals arrived burdened with heavy debts, putting them at risk of exploitation (Image: Getty)
Another 26-year-old man was arrested in Birmingham after an arrest warrant was issued by French authorities.
He is suspected of overseeing the accommodation of migrants heading to the UK. The National Crime Agency said he had been remanded in custody pending the start of extradition proceedings to France, and was due to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Monday.
French police arrested another 16 people in and around Paris in a simultaneous raid in collaboration with partners from Europol, Eurojust and the Belgian Federal Police. They also discovered 41 migrants, including 11 who were living at the same address.
The arrests were linked to the same investigation in which five people were caught and charged in North West England and South Yorkshire in February this year.
Investigators believe the network arranged for migrants from Vietnam to travel to Central and Eastern Europe via commercial flights before taking them to France. From there, the individuals were transported across the Channel to the UK using small boats and concealed within lorries. The crime group is also suspected of possessing the migrants’ original passports as a form of control, effectively trapping them in debt bondage.
According to Europol, the network arranged more than 200 crossings from France to the United Kingdom, transporting more than 1,000 migrants across the English Channel and generating a turnover of an estimated €50 million (about £43 million). Financial investigators also discovered approximately €1.6 million (£1.4 million) in transfers sent back from Britain to Vietnam.
Migrants were charged up to €50,000 (£43,643) for the entire journey from Vietnam to Britain. For the final leg from France to the UK, individuals paid between £8,000 and £10,000. These fees were part of a comprehensive package that included visa arrangements, flights in Europe, temporary accommodation and onward transport.
Many were unable to pay the full cost upfront. As a result, they arrived in Britain burdened with huge debts, making them particularly vulnerable to sexual and labor exploitation, Europol said. Investigators say they were often forced into exploitative situations in order to pay trafficking fees.
Alex Cruz, senior NCA investigating officer, said: “These arrests are a great example of the partnership we have with our partners in France to tackle the groups behind dangerous crossings into the UK. Such journeys put the people being transported at great risk and undermine border security.
“Tackling people trafficking remains a top priority for the NCA, and this is one of almost 100 ongoing investigations targeting groups or individuals who are directly involved in organizing travel, or who facilitate that criminality.
“Our investigation continues based on the evidence gathered today.”
Alex Norris, the Border Security and Asylum Minister, said: “This Government is cracking down on those who attempt to abuse our borders.
“These arrests demonstrate the strength of our cooperation with France in combating the criminal networks behind unacceptable Channel crossings that threaten our border security.
“We are strengthening law enforcement powers so that officers can rapidly intercept, detain and arrest smugglers to restore order and control at our borders.”
