Vietnamese migrant smuggling has become a lucrative business, with thousands risking their lives to cross the Channel to the UK. Thanh, a confessed people smuggler, shared his story with the BBC. He entered the UK illegally this year in a small boat and is now claiming asylum. Thanh has spent nearly 20 years in the smuggling industry, helping over 1,000 people cross the Channel.
Thanh’s operation involves forging visa documents for Vietnamese migrants seeking to enter Europe. He charges between $15,000 and $20,000 per person. Many Vietnamese migrants cite failing businesses and debts as reasons for seeking work in the UK. However, experts suggest that most are not trafficked but pay smugglers for passage.
Thanh’s journey began in 2007 when he left Vietnam for Europe. He worked in textile factories, picked vegetables, and sold black-market cigarettes. He claimed to be 14 to gain asylum in Germany. However, after a police crackdown, Thanh joined Vietnamese people smugglers in France. He rose through the ranks, earning €300 per successful crossing.
In 2017, Thanh returned to Vietnam but re-entered the smuggling trade, focusing on forging documents. He collaborated with bank staff to create fake bank statements and payslips. Thanh claims he’s not proud of his work but did it to support his family. He now regrets his life choices, warning others against Vietnamese migrant smuggling.
Thanh’s story raises questions about the scale of trafficking. Some experts believe many Vietnamese migrants are victims of trafficking, while others argue it’s a haphazard process. Thanh maintains that most migrants aren’t trafficked but use smuggling services willingly. Vietnamese migrant smuggling continues to claim lives, with over 50 deaths this year.
As Thanh seeks asylum in the UK, he acknowledges the dangers of migrant smuggling. He urges governments to publicize the lack of job opportunities for illegal migrants. Thanh’s own life would be in danger if smuggling gangs discovered his conversations with the BBC.
Throughout his story, Thanh’s motivations remain unclear. Is he genuinely seeking redemption, or is this another elaborate lie? One thing is certain: Vietnamese migrant smuggling remains a complex, deadly issue.
