Scots lorry driver convicted over plan to smuggle ten migrants into UK

A Scottish man has been convicted after ten migrants were rescued from a smuggling operation.

Duncan McLaughlin, from Glasgow, was the driver of a lorry carrying the migrants, including eight children, from France.

Eoin Nolan, 53, and Daniel Loughran, 36, had worked together from England and Northern Ireland to organise the movement of the Vietnamese nationals from Belgium in 2020.

The plans happened less than five months after 39 people died trying to make a similar journey.

The migrants had been given a pre-determined rendezvous point in the Rue de Forts area of France where they met McLaughlin.

They were then hidden in a load of used tyres ahead of being driven from France to Zeebrugge in Belgium, where they would have been loaded onto a ferry to Purfleet, England.

NCA investigators believe each of the migrants were charged in the region of £15,000 each for their passage to the UK.

The Belgian authorities, who were working with the NCA to track the lorry, intercepted the trailer at a parking area in Gentbrugge, Belgium.

The NCA investigation found that Nolan, from Aylesbury, was responsible for sourcing a driver for the journey and arranged for McLaughlin to drive the migrants from their pick-up point and across Europe.

Wayne Sherlock, from Dover, was another gang member convicted for his role in the conspiracy in June 2020 and received a four-year prison sentence following a trial at Maidstone Crown Court.

Messages between the groups showed detailed planning, including routes, logistics, and instructions on how the migrants should enter and hide in the vehicle.

They included: “might want to load them [the migrants] in the dark boss” and “yes with the wheels inside they can get in and sleep”.

In another chain, they said: “They need to stay still and wait till doors open and we shout out to f***”.

McLaughlin, who has since died, was arrested close to Bruges, and all ten migrants were rescued.

The 64-year-old was bailed and fled the country, being convicted in his absence in October 2021 and sentenced to 37 months imprisonment and an 88,000 euro fine.

Nolan and Loughran were arrested by NCA officers and convicted of conspiracy to assist unlawful immigration following a five-week trial at Maidstone Crown Court on February 6.

They will be sentenced on April 16.

David Cunningham, NCA branch commander, said: “Despite the tragedy that led to the deaths of 39 migrants in Purfleet in 2019, this gang sought to take advantage of this group of Vietnamese nationals, most of whom were children, putting them at risk by smuggling them across the English Channel.

“Each of the migrants were charged thousands of pounds and hidden in inhumane conditions.

“These smuggling gangs show complete disregard for the safety and wellbeing of those who decide to use these dangerous methods to try to enter the UK. Once payment is made by the migrant they simply become a commodity for transportation.

“Tackling organised immigration crime and bringing all of those involved to justice is a priority for the NCA and we will continue to work with all of our international partners to stop this inhumane, illegal and dangerous criminality.”

Tarika Jayaratne, of the Crown Prosecution Service, said: “The defendants in this case made significant efforts to avoid and undermine the checks and controls we have on immigration at our borders.

“They also put the safety and wellbeing of the vulnerable children they were smuggling at risk for profit.

“The CPS is continuing to work with law enforcement partners to discourage, disrupt and dismantle this exploitative trade through prosecutions and cross-border collaboration.”