THE personal possessions of 39 Vietnamese people found dead in a container in Essex have been returned to their families – marking the closure of Essex Police's most complex and far-reaching investigation. 

That investigation began in the early hours of Wednesday, 23 October 2019, when the 39 men, women and children were found unresponsive in the trailer of a lorry by its driver Maurice Robinson, in Eastern Avenue, Grays.

The lorry had travelled from Zeebrugge in Belgium to the Port of Purfleet.

Each of the 39 victims, and their families, had paid significant sums of money to an organised crime group whose members promised them safe passage to the UK and a life here.

As part of that investigation, 11 people have been convicted for their parts in the wider conspiracy, with sentences totalling 117 years in jail. 

Eighteen people were also convicted of linked offences in France in November last year. 

A delegation led by Detective Chief Superintendent Stuart Hooper from Essex Police and DI Michelle Stoten travelled to Vietnam to repatriate each of the victims' belongings with their families.

Det Ch Supt Hooper said: "Bringing the victims' belongings home to their families represents the final act of our most complex and far-reaching investigation ever carried out in Essex and it was humbling to represent our force in Vietnam. 

"During our meetings, we were reminded by the Vietnamese delegation of our chief constable's promise; to bring those responsible to justice, to treat each victim and their family with dignity and respect.

"We were told that as a result of our actions in dismantling this intercontinental crime group, Essex Police will always have a special place in Vietnam. 

"Those words and that level of respect are not lost on me. I know the devastation this incident wreaked on communities across Vietnam, and it remains the honour of my policing career to have commanded this investigation, which has seen 11 people convicted for a total of 117 years in jail handed down by the courts.

"I'd like to thank every partner we've worked with on this investigation. There are too many to mention individually, but our colleagues at the Crown Prosecution Service and the National Crime Agency have been crucial throughout." 

Throughout the investigation, DI Michelle Stoten led on international relations for Essex Police and helped to cultivate cross-border working relationships which ultimately proved key to dismantling the criminal group. 

Ch Supt Hooper added: "DI Stoten's work was instrumental in allowing this investigation to progress in the manner it did. She is among the most-dedicated officers I have had the privilege to work with in my career and I was proud work alongside her in representing the force in Vietnam. 

DI Stoten added: "Bringing the personal possessions of our victims home to ultimately be returned to their families was humbling. Throughout this investigation, we have seen – and in some cases, lived – its far-reaching impact. 

"We know the return of the items will not ease the loss of a beloved mother, sister, wife or daughter or a father, brother, husband or son but I truly hope it provides some comfort to the families." 

Det Ch Supt Hooper added: "So much of police work can be seen by those carrying it out as 'just part of the job' but nothing about this investigation was 'just part of the job'. Nothing about it was 'business as usual'. This was an exceptional investigation in extraordinary circumstances, and no one involved in it will ever forget it.

"Across Essex, we're continuing to make sure that victims of organised immigration crime are treated as such, and we're trailblazers in changing national protocol and policy on this matter. We're also working closely with the haulage industry, to make sure a tragedy like this never happens again."

And despite the investigation being finalised, the work of Essex Police has not stopped.

A statement says: "Alongside the Crown Prosecution, our highly trained financial investigators have carried out thorough investigations into the finances of all involved,

"At this stage, those convicted have been ordered to pay a total of £283,802.58 as compensation to the families of the 39 victims. Some aspects of that sum remain part of ongoing court proceedings."