After weeks of investigation, local authorities in Essex say they have identified all 39 people whose dead bodies were discovered inside a refrigerated trailer in southeast England.
In a statement released by Essex police on Thursday, it was confirmed that the eight women and 31 men found in the truck in Grays, Essex, on Oct. 23, ten of whom were teenagers, were all from Vietnam.
The victims, whose names were not publicly revealed in the initial announcement, were believed to have been transported to England by an international human trafficking syndicate. Their families have reportedly been notified, according to the New York Times. Their names were released early Friday, and reads as follows:
Nguyen Huy Hung, 15-year-old boy from Ha Tinh
Dinh Dinh Binh, 15-year-old boy from Hai Phong
Tran Ngoc Hieu, 17-year-old boy from Hai Duong
Tran Khanh Tho, 18-year-old man from Ha Tinh
Dinh Dinh Thai Quyen, 18-year-old man from Hai Phong
Hoang Van Tiep, 18-year-old man from Nghe An
Tran Thi Mai Nhung, 18-year-old woman from Nghe An
Vo Nhan Du, 19-year-old man from Ha Tinh
Tran Thi Ngoc, 19-year-old woman from Nghe An
Bui Thi Nhung, 19-year-old woman from Nghe An
Nguyen Dinh Luong, 20-year-old man from Ha Tinh
Nguyen Minh Quang, 20-year-old man from Nghe An
Tran Thi Tho, 21-year-old woman from Nghe An
Dang Huu Tuyen, 22-year-old man from Nghe An
Nguyen Van Hiep, 24-year-old man from Nghe An
Hoang Van Hoi, 24-year-old man from Nghe An
Vo Van Linh, 25-year-old man from Ha Tinh
Nguyen Tho Tuan, 25-year-old man from Nghe An
Pham Thi Tra My, 26-year-old woman from Ha Tinh
Nguyen Dinh Tu, 26-year-old man from Nghe An
Nguyen Trong Thai, 26-year-old man from Nghe An
Duong Minh Tuan, 27-year-old man from Quang Binh
Vo Ngoc Nam, 28-year-old man from Nghe An
Pham Thi Ngoc Oanh, 28-year-old woman from Nghe An
Le Van Ha, 30-year-old man from Nghe An
Nguyen Ngoc Ha, 32-year-old man from Quang Binh
Nguyen Van Hung, 33-year-old man from Nghe An
Nguyen Van Nhan, 33-year-old man from Ha Tinh
Nguyen Tien Dung, 33-year-old man from Quang, Binh
Nguyen Ba Vu Hung, 34-year-old man from Thua Thien – Hue
Nguyen Huy Phong, 35-year-old man from Ha Tinh
Tran Hai Loc, 35-year-old man from Nghe An
Nguyen Thi Van, 35-year-old woman from Nghe An
Cao Tien Dung, 37-year-old man from Nghe An
Bui Phan Thang, 37-year-old man from Ha Tinh
Tran Manh Hung, 37-year-old man from Ha Tinh
Cao Huy Thanh, 37-year-old man from Nghe An
Phan Thi Thanh, 41-year-old woman from Hai Phong
Le Ngoc Thanh, 44-year-old man from Dien Chau
Following the development, the Vietnamese Embassy in London released its own statement expressing “deep sorrow” for the tragic deaths.
Vietnamese families with missing relatives have been grieving for weeks since news of the tragedy emerged even without any official confirmation from the U.K. authorities. In Vietnam, local media platforms posted the list of victims’ names in full.
British and Vietnamese authorities are currently looking into how the 39 people traveled from Vietnam to Grays and then died while on transit.
Assistant Chief Constable Tim Smith of Essex Police, the senior police officer in charge of the case, noted that the deaths remain under investigation and warrant updates. Smith, however, noted the importance of providing “an opportunity for family members to take in the news confirming the death of their loved ones.”
British police have already arrested 25-year-old Maurice Robinson, the man who drove the truck. Aside from facing 39 counts of manslaughter, he was also charged with conspiracy to traffic people, conspiracy to assist unlawful immigration, and money laundering.
Last week, 22-year-old truck driver Eamon Harrison was also charged with nearly identical offenses related to the case. Police are also now on the lookout for brothers Ronan and Christopher Hughes, who are also suspected of being involved with the case.
Meanwhile, in Vietnam, the local police have arrested 11 people in connection with the human trafficking case.
Feature Image via BBC
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