\”BBCOur undercover reporter was approached by a member of a Vietnamese smuggling gang, offering a space on a small boat to the UK. The Vietnamese people smuggler, with bright dyed blonde hair, emerged from the shadows of a forest near the northern French coastline. He directed our team member away from the group, into the woods, before disappearing quickly.
Vietnam has become a major source of new migrants attempting to cross the Channel to the UK illegally in small boats. Our investigation, which included interviews with Vietnamese smugglers, clients, French authorities, and charities, uncovered a premium smuggling service offered to Vietnamese migrants at double the usual rate for a faster and more streamlined experience.
As part of our efforts to infiltrate these operations, we met with an experienced smuggler operating in the UK and arranged to meet a gang near Dunkirk to learn more about the process. The smuggler, known as Bac, offered a small boat service for £2,600, with payment upon arrival in the UK. We discovered that Bac may be a senior figure in a UK-based gang.
Vietnamese migrants are often targeted by trafficking groups, who may exploit them for labor in the UK to pay off debts incurred during the smuggling process. These groups operate separately from other migrant groups in camps around Dunkirk and Calais, maintaining a discreet and organized presence.
Unlike other migrants who face long waits and harsh conditions on the French coast, Vietnamese migrants are provided a more efficient service by their smugglers. The Vietnamese gangs negotiate access to small boats overseen by Iraqi Kurdish gangs, ensuring priority access for their clients.
While the safety of these crossings remains uncertain, the Vietnamese smugglers appear to be cautious about sending clients out in bad weather. Texts from Bac to our undercover reporter suggested specific travel arrangements and ideal timing for the crossing, indicating a level of care taken in planning the journeys.
The Vietnamese migrants we spoke to shared stories of economic hardship and desperation in Vietnam, leading them to borrow money for failed businesses and ultimately turn to smuggling to seek a better life in the UK. Despite the risks involved, they see this as their only option to repay debts and make a living in a more promising environment.\”