Thousands of Vietnamese have entered the UK illegally, according to a people smuggler who said arranging such crossings from Vietnam was a “lucrative business”.

Talking to a BBC Reporter, the trafficker claimed that “no trafficking was involved” and the increasing number of people leaving Vietnam for the UK are doing so voluntarily. However, many of them travel under false promises “about the realities and opportunities” for jobs in the UK and many end up being trafficked to work for gangs, the broadcaster said.

How many Vietnamese cross the Channel?