Tragic story of 39 bodies found in lorry trailer in Essex to be told on TV

The harrowing tale of the 39 lives lost in a lorry trailer and the subsequent Essex Police probe will be recounted on BBC One’s Crimewatch. In a chilling discovery on October 23, 2019, Vietnamese individuals, including men, women, and children, were found lifeless inside a trailer by driver Maurice Robinson in Grays, Essex.

As the five-year mark nears, Crimewatch is set to delve into the details of their ill-fated final journey and the intricate investigation that followed, highlighting the relentless efforts of law enforcement to bring perpetrators to justice.

Each victim, along with their relatives, had forked out hefty amounts to a criminal syndicate that falsely assured them safe entry into the UK and prospects for a new life. The extensive police operation, in collaboration with various domestic, private, and global entities, has exposed a vast human trafficking ring, culminating in the conviction of 11 individuals in the UK and 18 in France, with combined prison terms amounting to 117 years.

Detective Chief Inspector Louise Metcalfe commented on the case, saying: “This group of men worked together to smuggle people illegally into the UK, with some receiving significant payment for their services. There can be no greater demonstration of how dangerous the organised criminal networks involved in people smuggling can be than this tragic case.

“These 39 people, all mothers and fathers, sisters and brothers, sons and daughters, died in the most inhumane way, because of the actions of this greed-driven gang of people smugglers.”

In a grim journey from Zeebrugge in Belgium to Purfleet in Essex, a haunting Crimewatch film documents the moment Robinson collected the trailer around 1am and then stopped at Eastern Avenue to supposedly ‘give [them] some air’, following a chilling Snapchat directive from his boss, Ronan Hughes.

Discovering that the human cargo he was paid to transport were not breathing, panic-stricken Robinson resealed the container and frantically phoned his overseers whilst erratically driving across West Thurrock. Having disposed of his burner phone and concocting a cover story, it was only half an hour later when he returned to Eastern Avenue to call 999.

Initially claiming ignorance about the human stowaways, Robinson was apprehended on site. Intense scrutiny revealed his deep entanglement in the smuggling operation and resulted in his conviction alongside others responsible for this catastrophic incident.

As the probe wound down this summer, a poignant gesture saw the personal effects of the 39 souls being respectfully delivered back to their grieving relatives. Detective Chief Superintendent Hooper reflected: “Bringing the victims’ belongings home to their families represents the final act of our most complex and far-reaching investigation ever carried out in Essex and it was humbling to represent our force in Vietnam.”

During the discussions, Vietnamese officials reiterated Essex’s chief constable’s commitment to justice, mentioning how Essex Police earned a unique status in Vietnam due to their work on the case. “During our meetings, we were reminded by the Vietnamese delegation of our chief constable’s promise; to bring those responsible to justice, to treat each victim and their family with dignity and respect. We were told that as a result of our actions in dismantling this intercontinental crime group, Essex Police will always have a special place in Vietnam.”

The profound impact and respect gained through this international effort did not go unnoticed. “Those words and that level of respect are not lost on me. I know the devastation this incident wreaked on communities across Vietnam, and it remains the honour of my policing career to have commanded this investigation, which has seen 11 people convicted for a total of 117 years in jail handed down by the courts.”

Acknowledgement was also given to the numerous agencies and partners involved in this complex investigation. “I’d like to thank every partner we’ve worked with on this investigation. There are too many to mention individually, but our colleagues at the Crown Prosecution Service and the National Crime Agency have been crucial throughout.”

DI James Holmes provided a stark warning to criminals targeting the vulnerable: relentless pursuit and assured conviction. DI James Holmes, who spoke to the Crimewatch team, said: “Our message for criminals that want to prey on the vulnerable is, don’t. We’re very good at what we do. We will catch you, we will unpick your stories, and we will see you in court.”