Container truck carrying 39 bodies may be linked to major human trafficking ring
(Baonghean.vn) - The container carrying 39 bodies was part of a group of 3 vehicles carrying more than 100 people into the UK. However, Essex police said that an investigation is needed to clarify whether this container is part of a large human trafficking ring into the UK.
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| A lorry carrying 39 bodies was discovered at the Watergrade industrial park in Essex, England. Photo: CNN |
Reports suggest that two of the three vehicles have completed their journey, with the other found at the Watergrade Industrial Estate in Essex on October 23. However, the final destination of the other two containers is unknown.
Essex Police said the aim of the investigation was to establish whether the lorry carrying the 39 bodies was part of a larger human trafficking ring into the UK.
"Enquiries are being made to establish whether there was a significant human trafficking conspiracy involved in this case, but at this stage I cannot say any more," said Chief Inspector Martin Pasmore.
In charge of identifying the victims, Mr. Pasmore asked Vietnamese people in the UK to help identify the 39 bodies. The Chief Inspector of Police of the UK said that when the container door was opened, the emergency response team discovered "very few" identification documents of the victims inside the truck.
Truck driver Maurice Robinson, 25, from Northern Ireland, along with three other suspects have been arrested as part of the investigation.
Robinson is due to appear in court tomorrow (October 28) on charges of manslaughter and conspiracy to traffic people. Robinson has been charged with 39 counts of manslaughter, human trafficking, assisting unlawful immigration and money laundering.
The Vietnamese Embassy in the UK is working actively with the British police and establishing a communication channel with Essex Police to verify information about the nationalities of the victims, closely monitor the situation, and continue to coordinate to promote the process of confirming the identities of the victims in the case of 39 deaths. The Embassy is ready to take citizen protection measures in case the victims are Vietnamese citizens.
To receive support in case of need, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs recommends that citizens contact the Citizen Protection hotline of the Vietnamese Embassy in the UK: +44 7713 181501 or the Citizen Protection Hotline: +84981 8484 84.
