Police are hunting for a Romanian man in connection with the death of 39 Vietnamese people found near the Dartford Crossing.

Ten people have already been sentenced after the men women and children were found unresponsive in the trailer of a lorry by its driver, Grays, Essex, in October 2019.

The lorry had travelled from Zeebrugge in Belgium to the Port of Purfleet, in Essex; and each of the victims, and their families, had paid money to an organised criminal group that promised them safe passage to the UK.

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.

An investigation led to 10 people, including Robinson, being sentenced for their roles in the deaths of the 39 people; but detectives now want to trace Romanian national Marius Mihai Draghici, 48, in connection with the suspected manslaughter investigation and immigration offences.

He is suspected of being part of the network which co-ordinated immigrants’ journeys to the UK both in connection with the deaths and on a number of occasions prior to October 23 2019.

Draghici also goes by the aliases Marius Mihai Selaru and Marius Lupu and was born in the Romanian city, Onesti.

Essex Police say he has specific connections in the Bacau area of Romania as well as in Spain, and is known to work in the haulage industry.

They say a number of tactics are being used to trace him but they are also appealing to members of the public in Romania and Spain to help find him.

A picture of Draghici has been released alongside CCTV footage of him, and police are working with independent charity Crimestoppers in the hope of obtaining a reward for information on him.

DCI Louise Metcalfe, who is leading our investigation said: “The investigation into the tragic deaths of the 39 Vietnamese nationals is the most complex ever undertaken by Essex Police.

“So far, we have brought 10 people to justice and achieved prison sentences of almost 100 years in total. But we made a promise to the families of those who lost their lives in Essex in October 2019 that we would not stop until justice has been delivered in its entirety.

“Marius Draghici remains an outstanding suspect and, just as we have promised and already delivered on, our pursuit for justice will not stop at our borders and frontiers.

“I would like to appeal to the public in Romania and indeed in Spain; help us locate Marius Draghici. He is 48-years-old, was born in Onesti and is known to have strong connections to the Bacau area of the country. We also believe he is known in the haulage industry.

“Please look closely at his picture, have you seen him? Do you know him – perhaps by a different name? If you do, please let us know.

“Draghici is wanted in connection with a very serious offence. We strongly believe he is linked to the conspiracy which tragically ripped apart the families of the 39 innocent Vietnamese men, women and children who died on our shores in 2019. The actions we believe he is responsible for cannot go unpunished.

“I would urge anyone with information to please get in touch.”

The police team launched the appeal on the same day they welcomed an official Vietnamese delegation to Essex Police headquarters, where they met senior officers and detectives who continue to investigate the incident.

Chief Superintendent Stuart Hooper, who has overseen our investigation, said: “We continue to have a really strong relationship with our Vietnamese partners, and we’ve kept them, and the families of our victims, informed every step of the way.

“Today, they have been briefed on the very latest and, as they always have been, they remain incredibly supportive of our work.”

Ch Supt Hooper added: “We have lived up to our promise of delivering justice but there is one final piece of that jigsaw to be completed.

“We’ll be working with international partners and other agencies in order to make sure our appeal is heard far and wide.

“We are committed to tracking down every individual we believe to be connected to this most horrific of crimes.”

Anyone who has had any dealing with Marius Draghici and knows where he is is asked to visit Essex Police's online portal and submit information there. It can be found here.