A man has been charged with the deaths of 39 Vietnamese immigrants found inside a refrigerated trailer near the Dartford Crossing.

Ronan Hughes, of Tyholland in County Monaghan, was extradited from the Republic of Ireland to stand trial in connection with an ongoing investigation led by Essex Police.

The 40-year-old appeared before Southend Magistrates today where he was charged with 39 counts of manslaughter and one count of facilitating the illegal entry of people into the UK.

It comes after the bodies, which included ten teenagers and two 15-year-old boys, were found near the Dartford Crossing at an industrial estate in Grays, Essex, in October.

Earlier this month the High Court ruled Hughes could be extradited to the UK as he wanted to face the charges "as soon as possible".

During a previous bail hearing in April the court heard how Hughes was "the ringleader and organiser" of the people-smuggling plot and a European Arrest Warrant was issued.

It also heard how the migrants were smuggled in a commercial trailer owned and operated by Hughes.

On April 8 Maurice 'Mo' Robinson, of Craigavon in Northern Ireland, pleaded guilty to 39 counts of manslaughter at the Old Bailey in London.

He was among the five men charged in connection with the deaths who appeared via web link.

The 25-year-old had already previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to assist unlawful immigration and acquiring criminal property in November.

He will be sentenced at a later date.

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

They were flown home to Vietnam the following month as police offered condolences and pressed ahead with their investigations.

There have been multiple arrests in connection with the deaths.

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.

Last month authorities arrested 26 people in France and Belgium in connection with smuggling gangs.

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