An 11th man has been convicted after 39 Vietnamese people were found dead in the back of a lorry nearly four years ago.

In October, 2019, the bodies of multiple men, women and children were discovered close to the Dartford Crossing.

Since then, police investigating the tragedy have arrested and charged dozens of people.

The most recent is Marius Mihai Draghici, 49, who was arrested in Romania back in August and extradited to the UK where he was accused of 39 counts of manslaughter and conspiracy to assist unlawful immigrations.

On Friday, June 23, he admitted all charges during a hearing at Central Criminal Court in London.

He will be sentenced on a date yet to be confirmed.

The tragic discovery was made in the early hours of Wednesday, October 23, when the Vietnamese people were found unresponsive in the trailer of a lorry by its driver, in Grays, Essex.

The lorry had travelled from Zeebrugge in Belgium to the Port of Purfleet.

Each of the victims, and their families, had paid significant sums of money to an organised criminal group whose members promised them safe passage to the UK and a life here.

However, that promise turned to tragedy and the victims suffocated in the back of the lorry which was being driven by Northern Irishman Maurice Robinson.

Draghici’s role in the crime was to be involved in the transportation of the migrants once they arrived in the UK.

So far, ten people, have been sentenced for their roles in the deaths, with their jail terms totalling almost 100 years.

Detective chief inspector Louise Metcalfe, who is leading the investigation, said: “This is the most complex investigation ever undertaken by Essex Police and we have never lost sight of the far-reaching impact the events of October 2019 has had.

“Each of the people inside the lorry container were mothers, fathers, sons, daughters, brothers and sisters. They have family who feel their loss acutely each and every day.

“Today is a significant day. Draghici’s pleas show that the evidence we were able to present was so overwhelming that he was left with very little option but to admit his guilt and he is the eleventh person to be convicted for their part in this tragic incident.”

DCI Metcalfe explained how Draghici fled the UK and hid in Europe until he was found.

She added: “We have always maintained that the actions we believed Draghici was responsible for could never go unpunished. We now know they will not, and he is facing a significant amount of time in prison.”

Detective chief superintendent Stuart Hooper commented: “We made a promise to the families of our 39 victims that we would deliver justice – and that’s exactly what we are doing.”

“We have been committed to tracking down every person we know to have been involved – none more so than Draghici, who attempted to stay hidden. Unfortunately for him, he could not stay hidden, and he will have to face the consequences of his actions.

“We have left no stone unturned in our pursuit and Draghici’s admissions today show the strength of our investigation.

“Throughout this investigation, my first and final thoughts have always been with the victims’ families. The tireless work this investigative team has put in, to secure justice, has been for them.

“This has never been about being triumphant, this has always been about delivering justice for 39 families who had their worlds ripped apart in October 2019 and I’m proud of the role Essex Police has played in that.”

After Draghici, there is one remaining case – Caolan Gormley, 25, of Armagh, Northern Ireland, is charged with one count of conspiracy to assist illegal immigration.

His trial is expected to take place in November 2023 and he has since been bailed from court with conditions.