Two Men Facing Charges for Involvement in Fatal Drowning of Five Migrants in the Channel
Two men have been charged with offenses related to the tragic incident where five migrants drowned off the French coast at Wimereux this week. The incident involved an attempt to cross the English Channel in a small boat.
Yien Both, 22, from South Sudan, has been charged with assisting unlawful immigration and attempting to enter the UK without valid entry clearance. Sudanese national Tajdeen Abdulaziz Juma, 22, has been charged with attempting to enter the UK without valid entry clearance. However, neither of the men have been charged with manslaughter in connection to the deaths.
Both men are currently in custody and are set to appear at Folkestone Magistrates Court on Friday before facing trial at Canterbury Crown Court later this year.
Additionally, the National Crime Agency (NCA) mentioned that a third man, an 18-year-old from Sudan, has been bailed for further inquiries. The NCA is supporting the French investigation into the tragic incident, where five bodies were found on a beach near Calais.
Other entities involved include Kent Police, the Home Officer’s immigration enforcement department, and the UK Border Force.
Facebook Ads Attract Vietnamese Migrants
The NCA also revealed the arrest of four Vietnamese nationals in connection to a larger investigation into people smugglers using Facebook to advertise illegal crossings on small boats.
The presence of Vietnamese migrants in these crossings has surged, with the Safety of Rwanda Bill being cited as an important legislative measure to address this issue.
Arrests were made in various locations, including Croydon, London, Leicester, and Paris, as part of the investigations, leading to charges related to assisting unlawful immigration and people trafficking.
The NCA highlighted the involvement of Vietnamese migrants in small boat crossings, with a significant increase in their numbers from 2022 to 2023. Vietnamese nationals now represent a substantial portion of small boat migrants, with up to 20 individuals from Vietnam on each boat.
Home Secretary James Cleverly emphasized the commitment to dismantling criminal gangs involved in illegal migration and praised cooperation between law enforcement agencies in combating people smuggling activities.
The content also mentioned a past incident involving the deaths of 39 Vietnamese migrants in a lorry reported by Maurice Robinson, leading to convictions for individuals involved in people trafficking.
