An operation by French and British law enforcement, with assistance from Europol, resulted in the breakup of a Vietnamese criminal network that was smuggling people across the English Channel. In addition, the network engaged in money laundering and the exploitation of labour and sexual minorities.
The criminal organization transported migrants to the UK via France after they left Germany and Poland. The primary organizer, who served as the criminal network’s right hand, oversaw the smuggling operations, while a second accomplice handled money collection and coordinated migrant convoys. The majority of the migrants had used fictitiously obtained work visas to enter the EU illegally. Methamphetamine was being smuggled into the Paris region by some of the illegal migrants, who were providing Asian drug trafficking.
Prior to being smuggled into the United Kingdom, another member of the criminal network was in charge of arranging for the lodging of migrants in the Paris region. This was also the person responsible for transporting refugees into the EU through Poland. The migrants were sent to the region of Dunkerque following their stay in the Paris region. Subsequently, other traffickers coordinated their use of tiny boats to cross the English channels. The analysis indicates that there’s a chance the network coordinated the truck-based migration of people from France to the UK. Between EUR 15,000 and EUR 18,000 was the entire amount the migrants had to pay to be smuggled to the United Kingdom, their final destination.
In addition to offering operational coordination and analytical support, Europol also promoted information interchange. An analyst from Europol was sent to France on the day of the action to cross-check operational data with Europol’s databases and to provide leads to field investigators.
The Hague, Netherlands-based Europol provides assistance to the 27 EU member states in combating cybercrime, terrorism, and other types of severe and organized crime. Numerous non-EU partner governments and international organizations are also collaborated with by Europol. With the capabilities and resources necessary to contribute to the safety of Europe, Europol conducts a variety of threat assessments in addition to gathering intelligence and carrying out operational activities.
