A man has admitted playing a part in a people-smuggling operation that ended with 39
Vietnamese men, women and children suffocating to death in a refrigerated lorry trailer in Essex.
Dragos Stefan Damian, 28, was arrested in Italy and was extradited in September to stand trial at the Old Bailey in London following the investigation into the
migrants’ deaths.
In October 2019, lorry driver Maurice Robinson found the victims’ bodies in the trailer that he had transported from Zeebrugge, Belgium, to Purfleet in Essex, via ferry.
Earlier this year, other members of the people smuggling gang were jailed at the Old Bailey for their involvement.
On Tuesday, Damian appeared at the Old Bailey by video link from Chelmsford prison and pleaded guilty – with the help of an Italian translator – to conspiracy to assist unlawful immigration from May 2018 to October 2019.
Prosecuting lawyer Jonathan Polnay said Damian’s main task in the plan was to pick up migrants, and “allow” others to, from Collingwood Farm in Essex upon the Vietnamese nationals’ arrival in the UK.
Sentencing has been adjourned until 14 January next year before Mr Justice Sweeney.
Earlier this year, another gang member, 38-year-old Valentin Calota, from Birmingham, was jailed for four-and-a-half-years and ordered to pay the Vietnamese victims’ families just over £1,000.
He had been paid £700 plus expenses to drive one vanload of migrants from Essex to London days before the 39 people died.
Calota, who the court heard had benefited by £1,137.29 from the scheme, appeared at the Old Bailey for his confiscation hearing by video link from HMP Huntercombe and was aided by a Romanian interpreter.
Mr Polnay said: “The prosecution had considered submitting to this court the benefit was higher.
“However given we understand Mr Calota is to be deported relatively shortly from this country we consider there to be little if any benefit in an academic exercise in asserting that he had a higher benefit.”
Judge Mark Lucraft QC ordered that the entire sum of £1,137.29 be confiscated and paid as compensation to the victims’ families.
Other gang members are due to face confiscation hearings later this week.
Man admits role in smuggling operation that led to deaths of 39 Vietnamese migrants