Scots link to lorry deaths smuggling operation
Chinese people-smugglers operating in Scotland have close links with the gangs who may be responsible for the deaths of 39 migrants.
Over the past five years Vietnamese have consistently appeared as one of the top nationalities of potential victims of trafficking identified by Police Scotland.
Experts say many victims come to the UK with the help of the Snakeheads, notorious people-smugglers with links to ruthless Triad gangsters in China.
A new book written by international crime specialists suggests organised criminal groups operating in Strathclyde – with links to London and Northern Ireland – are involved in human trafficking for sexual and labour exploitation as well as money lending and extortion.
The book – Human Trafficking Finances, Evidence From Three European Countries – talks about a people-smuggling scheme identified by the authorities in Scotland that has links to London.
Jim Laird, an antitrafficking expert and contributor to the Scottish Parliament’s cross-party group on the issue, said: “There are clear links between these gangs…the Chinese groups here tend to supply transport and accommodation once they arrive in the UK.”
Former head of the Scottish Crime and Drug Enforcement Agency Graeme Pearson said many Vietnamese he dealt with were forced to look after illegal cannabis cultivations.
He said: “They have been brought here as gardeners for cannabis farms.”
DCI Rory Hamilton, from Police Scotland’s National Human Trafficking Unit, said: “We will pursue traffickers relentlessly. We will work with our network of contacts in the UK, with international law enforcement and other agencies to rid our country of trafficking .”