3 years in prison for the subject of illegally bringing Vietnamese immigrants into the UK

According to information from the British Embassy in Vietnam, the Chelmsford Crown Court of the UK has tried and sentenced Valeriu Iordatii (24 years old, Romanian nationality) to 3 years in prison for illegally bringing people, including Vietnamese citizens, into the UK.

Subject Valeriu Iordatii. Photo: COLCHESTER GAZETTE

Previously, on December 16, 2023, Iordatii drove a Citroen van from the Netherlands to Essex, England. Video evidence obtained by British authorities showed that Iordatii hid 7 illegal immigrants (6 Vietnamese, 1 from Syria) on the roof of the car. Of these people, 2 had applied for asylum upon entry, the remaining 5 did not. The British side identified them as illegal immigrants and immediately returned them to the Netherlands.

Having received the prison sentence, Iordatii was identified as a foreign criminal and will be deported from the UK after his case was passed to the Home Office .

“This shocking case shows that traffickers are increasingly reckless and reckless in their pursuit of profit,” said Chris Foster, Deputy Director of Criminal and Financial Investigation, Home Office.

Where Valeriu Iordatii hid illegal immigrants. (Photo: UK Home Office)

There have been several similar cases in recent times. Ipswich Crown Court sentenced a man to two years and eight months in prison in early February for smuggling people across the border by boat. At the end of January, Canterbury Court sentenced a man to two and a half years in prison for smuggling a Vietnamese woman into the UK.

According to the British Embassy in Vietnam, the British Government encourages and welcomes immigrants through safe and legal channels, and is determined to prevent all illegal routes to the UK.