…By Henry George for TDPel Media.
The victims, Vietnamese nationals, had paid significant amounts of money for a “VIP” smuggling service, hoping for a better life in Britain.
On October 22, 2019, the victims were tightly packed inside the lorry container, enduring pitch-black and sweltering conditions.
Sentencing and Previous Convictions
The judge, Mr. Justice Sweeney, affirmed that the smuggling conspiracy was indeed a sophisticated, long-running, and profitable operation.
There were at least seven identified smuggling trips, although it was believed that more had taken place.
Phan Thi Thanh, who sold her family home and left her son behind, had her son heartbroken upon hearing about the incident through mass media.