Families of lorry victims reunited with belongings

The victims had paid fees of about £13,000 for what they believed to be a "VIP" route into Europe

The personal belongings of 39 Vietnamese people found dead in a lorry trailer in Essex have been returned to their families.

Their bodies were discovered in an airtight container after it was transported by ferry from Belgium to Purfleet in October 2019.

A total of 11 people have been convicted in the UK over the case, which saw the victims pay significant sums of money for a "VIP" route into Europe.

Det Ch Supt Stuart Hooper, of Essex Police, said returning their possessions marked "the final act of our most complex and far-reaching investigation ever".

Last November, a further 18 people were convicted in France of linked offences.

Many of the victims hoped to find better paid work in the UK

The Vietnamese men, women and children paid fees rising to £13,000 for what they believed to be a safe passage to the UK.

They were found unresponsive in the trailer by its driver, Maurice Robinson, in Grays during the early hours of 23 October 2019.

A subsequent investigation found the temperature inside the sealed container had been rising along with the carbon dioxide levels throughout the fatal trip.

Temperatures hit 40C (104F) while the lorry was at sea, a trial heard.

The victims had used a metal pole to try to punch through the roof but managed only to dent the interior.

The Vietnamese migrants travelled by ferry from Belgium to Purfleet before the trailer was opened in Grays

Essex Police said it sent a delegation to Vietnam to repatriate each of the victims' belongings with their families.

"I know the devastation this incident wreaked on communities across Vietnam," said Mr Hooper.

"This was an exceptional investigation in extraordinary circumstances, and no-one involved in it will ever forget it."

Police said £283,802 had been recovered via the courts from those involved in the people-smuggling ring that oversaw the fatal trip.

One of the criminal group's key members, Marius Draghici, is set to be deported for his involvement.

Det Insp Michelle Stoten, who worked with Vietnamese officials throughout the investigation, said returning the victims' items was "humbling".

"I truly hope it provides some comfort to the families," she added.