Five jailed for smuggling Vietnamese migrants to UK

Five members of a Vietnamese people-smuggling and money-laundering gang were sentenced to a combined 39.5 years in prison at Liverpool Crown Court on September 15, 2026. The National Crime Agency (NCA) said the group, led by twin brothers Vinh Van Nguyen and Quang Van Nguyen, facilitated illegal entry to the UK for Vietnamese migrants and laundered more than £1.65 million. Vinh Van Nguyen, 31, of Coventry, was sentenced to 12 years and six months. His twin, Quang Van Nguyen, also 31, of Coventry, received nine years and nine months. Van Huy Nguyen, 23, of Rotherham, was jailed for seven years and two months. Lia-Chien Trong, 34, and Sy Trai Ho, 28, both of no fixed UK address, were sentenced to six years and four years, respectively. The investigation began after French customs officers at Charles de Gaulle Airport seized a package addressed to Quang Nguyen in July 2025. The package, allegedly containing chocolates and clothes, was found to contain 22 Vietnamese passports. This led to a joint investigation with the French Central Office Against Migrant Smuggling and Belgian Federal Judicial Police.