Three men jailed for attempted people smuggling
NATIONAL CRIME AGENCYThree people smugglers who made several failed attempts to transport Vietnamese migrants across the English Channel in boats that kept breaking down have been jailed.
The mastermind of the operation, 57-year-old Freddy Lawrence from Woodfield Close, Folkestone, was found guilty in November of conspiring to assist unlawful immigration and sentenced to seven-and-a-half years in jail on Friday.
Keith Baigent, 63, from Dover Road, Folkestone, and Paul Giglia, 64, from Cheriton, Kent, were sentenced to three years and nine months and three years and four months respectively.
Investigators said it was an "amateurish criminal enterprise" aimed at smuggling vulnerable migrants into the UK using "ramshackle vessels".
Canterbury Crown Court heard how multiple attempts to transport the migrants across the English Channel failed during a 10-day period in August 2018.
On one occasion a £30,000 vessel purchased for the people-smuggling mission was towed back to Dover following steering difficulties, the court heard.
The men then rented another boat which also broke down. A third failed attempt was then made using both boats but this too had to be abandoned because of mechanical problems.
NATIONAL CRIME AGENCYTwelve Vietnamese migrants eventually tried to board one of the vessels near Wimereux, France, but French police detained them along with three men who were in control of the boat. Those men were sentenced and jailed in France.
The court heard how Lawrence was previously convicted for money laundering, theft and the supply of drugs as recently as 2024.
National Crime Agency senior investigating officer Steven Ahmet said: "These journeys would have put lives in peril as Lawrence and his accomplices, who between them had little sailing experience, were navigating through one of the world's busiest shipping lanes."
Dame Angela Eagle, Minister for Border Security and Asylum, said: "We are determined to protect our borders by taking down the dangerous people-smuggling gangs who prey on vulnerable people and fuel dangerous and illegal journeys.
"These callous criminals put several lives on the line and their vile scheme could have easily ended in tragedy."
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