Vietnamese nationals jailed for facilitating illegal UK migration via social media
Two Vietnamese nationals have been sentenced to prison after facilitating illegal migration into the UK through social media advertising, in a case involving hundreds of individuals.
Hop Nguyen, 36, and Hoang Nguyen, 25, were jailed at Croydon Crown Court after pleading guilty to assisting unlawful immigration. Their operation, which ran between January 2023 and April 2024, involved arranging crossings from France and promoting services on Facebook.
The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) confirmed that the pair worked with others as part of a wider organised crime network. They advertised their services online, directing potential migrants to contact them via Zalo, a messaging application commonly used in the Vietnamese community. Through this platform, arrangements were made, and fees agreed.
Evidence presented in court showed that the defendants offered crossings for less than £3,000 per person. Ledgers recovered from properties in Leicester and south London recorded payments linked to approximately 250 individuals. Based on those records, the operation had the potential to generate around £750,000.
Hop Nguyen received a sentence of 12 years’ imprisonment, while Hoang Nguyen was sentenced to 10 years and six months. Both defendants are also subject to deportation orders. They were arrested at separate addresses in April 2024 and later entered guilty pleas in August of that year.
The court heard that the pair not only arranged transport into the UK, including places on small boats, but also helped migrants evade authorities after arrival. In some cases, individuals who had been intercepted were assisted in leaving temporary accommodation and integrating into local communities.
During Hoang Nguyen’s arrest, officers from the National Crime Agency (NCA) recovered £8,147 in cash from a property in Croydon. Investigations into associated individuals remain ongoing, including extradition proceedings involving another suspect.
Hilary Ryan, a specialist prosecutor with the CPS, said the case formed part of ongoing efforts to disrupt organised immigration crime. She described the operation as sophisticated and profit-driven, noting the significant financial gains involved.
The NCA also highlighted the risks associated with such crossings, describing them as dangerous and exploitative. Officials stated that individuals using these routes may become vulnerable to exploitation or debt-related coercion.
Authorities confirmed that the defendants were linked to a broader international network responsible for facilitating illegal migration into Europe and onward to the UK. The case follows other recent prosecutions targeting similar activity across the region.
The CPS and NCA have reiterated their commitment to tackling organised immigration crime through coordinated enforcement and disruption of networks operating both online and across borders.