Two Romanian drivers have been jailed for attempting to smuggle almost fifty people from the UK into France using vans and lorries, following a National Crime Agency operation at Dover Port in September.
Marius Bajenaru, 44, and Sorin Costinel Ivan, 46, were arrested on 18 September in a joint effort involving the NCA, Port of Dover Police, Kent Police and Immigration Enforcement.
According to the NCA, Bajenaru had seventeen migrants hidden in the rear of his panel van along with nearly four thousand pounds in cash found in a bag inside the cab. Ivan had thirty two people, mostly Bangladeshi nationals, concealed in the trailer of his HGV, where officers later recovered three bundles of cash totalling nine thousand nine hundred and fifty pounds.
In interview, Bajenaru gave a full confession and told investigators he had collected the migrants from a layby on the A20 near Ashford and expected to receive around two hundred pounds per person. Ivan initially denied any knowledge of the people in his trailer, though he later changed his plea and admitted facilitating illegal immigration.
Both men were sentenced at Canterbury Crown Court on 25 November. Ivan received three years and four months in prison, while Bajenaru was sentenced to two years and eight months.
NCA Senior Investigating Officer John Turner said the case illustrates the risks faced by drivers who agree to work with smuggling groups. “People smuggling gangs will pitch this as a low risk way of making extra money to drivers, but as this case shows it is anything but”, he said. “Those caught face potentially life changing prison sentences. The criminal networks involved in this type of offending show no regard for the safety of those they transport, treating people as commodities. Working with partners we are doing all we can to disrupt and dismantle their operations.”
The NCA recently warned that organised crime groups are actively recruiting professional drivers for cross Channel smuggling attempts. Its joint campaign with Border Force and Crimestoppers continues to urge haulage workers to report suspicious activity.