Organised crime group jailed for 40 years over people smuggling

Five individuals involved in a people smuggling and money laundering operation have been sentenced to a total of almost 40 years imprisonment. The organised crime group facilitated the illegal entry of Vietnamese migrants into the United Kingdom and laundered over £1.6 million in criminal proceeds. The investigation was a joint effort between the National Crime Agency (NCA), French Central Office Against Migrant Smuggling Roissy (OLTIM), and Belgian Federal Judicial Police West Flanders (FGP).

Investigation triggered by passport seizure

The investigation commenced in July 2025 when French Customs officers at Charles de Gaulle Airport intercepted a package addressed to Quang Nguyen. The parcel, which was declared to contain chocolates and clothes, was found to contain 22 Vietnamese passports. This discovery led the NCA to identify twin brothers Vinh Van Nguyen and Quang Van Nguyen, both 31 and from Coventry, as the leaders of the operation. Other group members identified were Van Huy Nguyen, 23, from Rotherham, Lia-Chien Trong, 34, and Sy Trai Ho, 28, both of no fixed UK abode.

Operation and financial flows

Vinh and Quang Nguyen advertised people smuggling services from Vietnam to Europe via Facebook, offering a comprehensive service. The wider group was responsible for collecting cash payments across the UK and sending them to Vietnam. Migrants had their passports confiscated by the group in France before travelling to the UK via small boats and lorries. These documents were then sent to UK-based accomplices. The passports were used as a form of 'debt bondage', with the group collecting money from migrants. Payments for crossings were sent back to Vietnam through Post Offices and money transfer services such as Western Union, Money Gram, and Ria, ultimately being transferred to accounts controlled by the group in Vietnam.

Cash and passport seizure in Birmingham

Quang Nguyen was arrested in Birmingham city centre on 11 September 2025. Officers observed him acting suspiciously before discarding car keys. A search of the vehicle revealed over £16,700 in cash and 220 Vietnamese passports, bundled with handwritten notes and money transfer receipts. These receipts led investigators to numerous Post Office transfers made in locations including Coventry, Luton, Wigan, Liverpool, Leeds, Leamington Spa, and Rugby. The majority of these transactions, occurring between July 2024 and October 2025, were linked to members of the crime group.

Lia-Chien Trong was further implicated through DNA evidence found on a bloodstained Argentina football shirt within a bag in the seized car. The shirt contained Trong's DNA and was wrapped around several passports. Forensic examination of Quang's phone uncovered messages related to people smuggling, including discussions about vehicle movements and ferry bookings for lorries entering the UK. Other communications referred to the movement of 'chickens', a slang term for migrants, and associated prices. Messages between Quang and Trong also detailed addresses for nail salons, along with names and dates of birth of Vietnamese nationals, confirming the use of 'debt bondage' arrangements where migrants were placed in workplaces to repay their illegal entry costs.

Further arrests and convictions

NCA officers arrested Vinh, Ho, and Trong in Coventry on 1 October 2025. They were rearrested in February 2026, along with Huy, for the first time. Prior to their October arrest, Vinh, Ho, and Trong were observed travelling from Coventry to collect cash from a nail bar in Wrexham. They were found with approximately £4,000 in cash when stopped attempting to transfer funds via Western Union at an Asda store in Wigan. Vinh was found with over £13,400 in cash and eight Vietnamese passports, some with Post Office cash deposit receipts. Examination of Vinh's phone revealed searches on windy.com, a weather forecasting website, indicating activity related to crossing the English Channel. Trong's phone contained notes detailing monetary amounts, Post Office locations, and banking details, with one chat explicitly mentioning 'money laundering'.

Production Orders served on money transfer services revealed over £1.65 million was transferred across 740 transactions to Vietnam between July 2024 and October 2025. Vinh was convicted by a jury at Liverpool Crown Court on 25 August. Quang and Trong had pleaded guilty at earlier hearings, while Ho and Huy changed their pleas to guilty shortly before the trial commenced. On 15 September, Vinh was sentenced to 12 years and six months imprisonment. Quang received nine years and nine months, Huy seven years and two months, Trong six years, and Ho four years.

Sara-Jayne Moore, NCA branch commander, stated that the large number of passports seized demonstrated the scale of the operation overseen by Quang and Vinh. She added that migrants faced further hardship upon arrival in the UK, often working in the grey economy under 'debt bondage' arrangements. The NCA continues to collaborate with international partners.