Five Jailed in UK for £1.6 Million Money Laundering Scheme Using Migrants' Passports

Five men have been jailed for their roles in a £1.6 million money laundering scheme that involved confiscating passports from migrants and using them as a form of 'debt bondage'. The operation, run by twin brothers Vinh Van Nguyen and Quang Van Nguyen, lured Vietnamese asylum seekers to the UK with promises of an 'end-to-end service' via Facebook advertisements.

Upon arrival in France, migrants had their passports seized before being smuggled into the UK by boat or lorry. These passports were then used to extort money from the migrants, which was subsequently sent back to Vietnam. Police discovered that over £1 million was transferred to Vietnam through 740 transactions between July 2024 and October 2025.

Quang Van Nguyen was arrested in Birmingham city center on September 11 last year. Officers found more than £16,700 in cash and 220 Vietnamese passports in his car, accompanied by notes and receipts from money transfers. Analysis of these receipts revealed the extensive reach of the money laundering operation, with transactions occurring across numerous UK cities.

An international investigation into the group began in July 2025 when French customs officers at Charles de Gaulle Airport intercepted a parcel addressed to Quang containing 22 Vietnamese passports. Further inquiries linked money transfers made through Post Offices across the UK to members of the group. The National Crime Agency (NCA) noted that 'chickens' was slang used by the gang to refer to the migrants.

Following a two-week trial at Liverpool Crown Court, the following sentences were handed down: Vinh Van Nguyen received 12 years and six months for conspiracy to assist illegal entry into the UK and transferring criminal property. Quang Van Nguyen was sentenced to nine years and nine months, having previously admitted to the same offenses. Lia-Chien Trong, 34, also admitted to both offenses and received a six-year sentence. Sy Trai Ho, 28, and Van Huy Nguyen, 23, pleaded guilty after the trial began, receiving sentences of four years and six months, and seven years and two months, respectively.

NCA branch commander Sara-Jayne Moore stated, 'This group had no qualms about transporting migrants for profit, as shown by the heartless language used to describe their human cargo.' She added, 'The huge numbers of passports seized by the NCA and our policing partners demonstrates the scale of the operation overseen by Quang and Vinh.' Moore emphasized the NCA's commitment to working with international partners to pursue organized immigration crime groups.