An investigation has led to the arrest of 26 people suspected of transporting Vietnamese migrants through Europe into the UK.

Joint action was taken by law enforcement agencies in Belgium and France which have been working together to intercept migrant smuggling networks in the wake of the tragedy at the Dartford Crossing.

It follows the deaths of 39 Vietnamese nationals, who were sadly discovered in a lorry container in Grays, Essex on October 23 last year.

Europol had originally reported yesterday's arrests were linked to the lorry deaths but Essex Police later clarified that while the joint investigation was founded in the wake of the tragedy they were not linked.

Belgian police had arrested 13 people as part of an ongoing investigation into the transit of mainly Asian irregular migrants, according to the EU law enforcement agency.

Another 13 were arrested by French officials who carried out 12 house raids in Paris.

The searches led to the seizure of three vehicles, cash and electronic equipment and 21 migrants were found and put into safety.

Europol has been working with judicial authorities in Belgium, France, Ireland and the UK to dismantle criminal networks involved in the illegal transportation of migrants.

Among those found dead near the Crossing last year were ten teenagers, including two 15-year-old boys.

On April 8, Maurice Robinson, 25, of Craigavon in Northern Ireland, appeared at the Old Bailey and pleaded guilty to 39 counts of manslaughter.

He had already admitted conspiracy to assist unlawful immigration with others and acquiring criminal property at a hearing at the central criminal court in November.

Another man has been charged with with conspiracy to arrange or facilitate the travel of people with a view to exploitation and conspiracy to facilitate the commission of a breach of UK immigration law.

A third man will face 39 counts of manslaughter and one count of conspiracy to assist unlawful immigration.

And a fourth and fifth have both been charged with conspiring to do an act to facilitate the commission of a breach of UK immigration law by a non-EU person between May 1, 2018 and October 24, 2019.

In February it was revealed that provisional investigations showed the Vietnamese migrants died as a result of overheating.

Following yesterday's arrests, Europol said in a statement: "The criminal organisation is suspected of facilitating the transit of mainly Vietnamese irregular migrants through Belgium and France towards the United Kingdom.

"The suspects are believed to have hidden their victims before routing them towards their final destination across the English Channel.

"It is likely that the network has transported up to several dozen people every day for several months."

It added that the French and Belgian operational actions were "crucial to safeguard particularly vulnerable victims" and to arrest suspects at a high risk of fleeing.

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