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Essex lorry deaths: Man charged with immigration offence in connection with 39 Vietnamese migrants found dead near Dartford Crossing

A man has been charged in connection with the bodies found inside a refrigerated trailer near the Dartford Crossing.

Gazmir Nuzi, of Barclay Road, Tottenham, was arrested in London yesterday on suspicion of conspiracy to facilitate the entry of non-EU citizens into the UK.

Police at the scene of the discovery in Thurrock, Essex Picture: UKNIP
Police at the scene of the discovery in Thurrock, Essex Picture: UKNIP

The 42-year-old has now been charged with conspiracy to facilitate a breach of UK immigration law by a non-EU person.

He is due to appear at Chelmsford Magistrates’ Court today.

Officers say the charge is in connection to the ongoing investigation into the deaths of 39 Vietnamese nationals, who were sadly discovered in a lorry container in Grays on October 23 last year.

On April 8, Maurice Robinson, 25, of Craigavon in Northern Ireland, appeared at the Old Bailey and pleaded guilty to 39 counts of manslaughter.

He had already admitted conspiracy to assist unlawful immigration with others and acquiring criminal property at a hearing at the central criminal court in November.

Maurice Robinson has admitted the manslaughter of 39 people found dead in a lorry in Essex
Maurice Robinson has admitted the manslaughter of 39 people found dead in a lorry in Essex

Robinson appeared in court via video link alongside four other defendants.

Another man has been charged with with conspiracy to arrange or facilitate the travel of people with a view to exploitation and conspiracy to facilitate the commission of a breach of UK immigration law.

A third man will face 39 counts of manslaughter and one count of conspiracy to assist unlawful immigration.

And a fourth and fifth have both been charged with conspiring to do an act to facilitate the commission of a breach of UK immigration law by a non-EU person between May 1, 2018 and October 24, 2019.

In February it was revealed that provisional investigations showed the Vietnamese migrants died as a result of overheating.

The bodies, which included a 15-year-old boy, were found in a trailer in Grays in October and were initially thought to be those of Chinese citizens.

Five other people have been charged in connection with the deaths Photo: Stefan Rousseau/PA Wire
Five other people have been charged in connection with the deaths Photo: Stefan Rousseau/PA Wire

They were flown home to Vietnam the following month as police offered condolences and pressed ahead with their investigations.

To read more of our in depth coverage of all of the major trials coming out of crown and magistrates' courts across the county, click here.

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