Discovery of, and investigation into, 39 dead bodies found in the container of a chiller lorry in Grays, Essex, England
The deaths of 39 Vietnamese migrants in a refrigerated lorry exposed the dangers of people-smuggling networks operating across Europe.
Key Facts
- Total deaths
- 39 people
- Male victims
- 31 men
- Female victims
- 8 women
- Nationality of victims
- All Vietnamese nationals
- UK convictions
- 11 people
- Belgian convictions
- 19 people
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
Victims were migrants being smuggled from mainland Europe to the United Kingdom inside a refrigerated trailer, a route facilitated by a cross-border people-smuggling network. The trailer originated from Zeebrugge, Belgium, and crossed to Purfleet, Essex, with the lorry cab and driver believed to have come from Northern Ireland.
On 23 October 2019, emergency services in Grays, Essex, discovered 39 bodies — 31 men and eight women — inside the trailer of an articulated refrigerator lorry. All victims were confirmed as Vietnamese nationals. Essex Police led a multinational investigation involving authorities from the UK, Belgium, Ireland, and Vietnam.
The investigation resulted in 11 convictions in the United Kingdom and a further 19 imprisonments in Belgium. The case drew international attention to the deadly conditions faced by migrants using illegal smuggling routes and prompted scrutiny of cross-border trafficking networks across Europe.
Human Cost
Each dot represents approximately 10,000 deaths. Total estimated: 39 (other)