Trucking Boss’s Sentence Extended for Unpaid Victim Compensation

39 Migrant Deaths Linked to Haulage Operator

A haulage company boss, previously jailed for his role in the deaths of 39 Vietnamese migrants, faces an extended prison sentence. This comes after he failed to meet the full compensation obligations to the victims’ families.

Additional Prison Time Imposed

Ronan Hughes, who received a 20-year sentence in 2021 for the manslaughter of the 39 individuals, has been ordered to serve an extra 16 months. This penalty arises from his default on a confiscation order totalling over £182,000 (€210,232) meant for the bereaved families.

The victims, aged between 15 and 44, tragically died in suffocating conditions within an airtight container transported from Belgium to Essex in October 2019. Hughes, aged 45, appeared before Folkstone Magistrates’ Court for an enforcement hearing.

As of Tuesday, Hughes had paid only £58,380 (€67,436) towards the confiscation order. Including accrued interest, he still owed more than £127,000 (€146,703).

Prosecution’s Stance on Criminal Profit

The Crown Prosecution Service’s Proceeds of Crime Division requested the additional sentence due to the outstanding debt. Specialist prosecutor Heather Chalk commented on the case’s gravity.

“It is devastating that 39 vulnerable people lost their lives because of their greed and recklessness.”

—Heather Chalk, Specialist Prosecutor for the CPS

Chalk added: “The CPS is committed to working with law enforcement to dismantle these smuggling networks and prevent them from profiting from their criminality. Hughes failed to pay back his confiscation order in full and, as a result, he will be serving additional time in jail.”

Broader Network Implicated

Hughes was part of a larger criminal enterprise involved in smuggling individuals. In addition to his role, four other men received sentences ranging from 13 to 27 years for their involvement in the manslaughter. These included Romanian mechanic Gheorghe Nica, his associate Marius Mihai Draghici, lorry driver Maurice Robinson, and Eamonn Harrison, who collected the migrants on the continent.

To date, confiscation orders totalling over £283,000 (€326,926) have been issued to defendants in connection with the case, intended as compensation for the victims’ families.

The prevalence of human trafficking remains a significant global issue. In 2023, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime reported that nearly 70% of detected trafficking victims worldwide were women and girls, highlighting the vulnerability of specific demographics (UNODC, 2023).