Digital illustration by the author
The Times investigative report “What I saw on the trafficking route that ships slaves' to the UK” investigates the dangerous path that Vietnamese migrants take to reach the UK. The investigation examines the Vietnamese community of Do Thanh village in Nghe An province because some residents obtained their wealth through illegal UK migrant labour remittances. The investigation reveals that human trafficking operations have established their base in this small Vietnamese community.
The human trafficking operation consists of multiple elements that include Vietnamese smugglers working with European criminal organisations and tourism companies that participate in the trafficking activities. Tourist visas serve as entry points for European migrants before they get smuggled across borders to reach the UK. The migrants who reach the UK destination usually become victims of forced labour in nail salons and cannabis farms and prostitution rings. The migrants experience debt bondage together with abuse and harsh living conditions which are far from their expected prosperous life.
The UK government says Channel crossings have dropped in 2025 due to closer ties with Vietnam, but for many migrants, the journey is still filled with hardship. Exploitation is rampant, and countless people remain trapped in debt, living far from the opportunities and security they had dreamed of.
Reference:
The Times. (2025, August 13). What I saw on the trafficking route that ships 'slaves' to the UK.
https://www.thetimes.com/world/asia/article/human-trafficking-route-uk-qr3rh256f
Further Reading:
Slavery in the UK