Two Romanian drivers have been jailed for attempting to smuggle almost fifty people from the UK into France using vans and lorries, following a National Crime Agency operation at Dover Port in September.
Marius Bajenaru, 44, and Sorin Costinel Ivan, 46, were arrested on 18 September in a joint effort involving the NCA, Port of Dover Police, Kent Police and Immigration Enforcement.
According to the NCA, Bajenaru had seventeen migrants hidden in the rear of his panel van along with nearly four thousand pounds in cash found in a bag inside the cab. Ivan had thirty two people, mostly Bangladeshi nationals, concealed in the trailer of his HGV, where officers later recovered three bundles of cash totalling nine thousand nine hundred and fifty pounds.
In interview, Bajenaru gave a full confession and told investigators he had collected the migrants from a layby on the A20 near Ashford and expected to receive around two hundred pounds per person. Ivan initially denied any knowledge of the people in his trailer, though he later changed his plea and admitted facilitating illegal immigration.
Both men were sentenced at Canterbury Crown Court on 25 November. Ivan received three years and four months in prison, while Bajenaru was sentenced to two years and eight months.
NCA Senior Investigating Officer John Turner said the case illustrates the risks faced by drivers who agree to work with smuggling groups. “People smuggling gangs will pitch this as a low risk way of making extra money to drivers, but as this case shows it is anything but”, he said. “Those caught face potentially life changing prison sentences. The criminal networks involved in this type of offending show no regard for the safety of those they transport, treating people as commodities. Working with partners we are doing all we can to disrupt and dismantle their operations.”
The NCA recently warned that organised crime groups are actively recruiting professional drivers for cross Channel smuggling attempts. Its joint campaign with Border Force and Crimestoppers continues to urge haulage workers to report suspicious activity.
I hope we managed to get all those escaping people back safely. 🤔🙄
We should have said it was too dangerous to unload them from the trucks and flagged the thru to France – maybe given them a border force escort too…..
Should have give them a monetary award instead.
They were doing the public a service
Britain and its border security are a complete disgrace.
How can you say that when they caught them?
Well, there are “some” who would have let them go and take their Cargo to France I guess !!!!
Because they are already in the country, and you can bet your bottom dollar they will never be removed
“from the UK into France” and we stopped them?
The irony.
If only it worked as effectively the other way.
Afternoon Daniele and Jack. We always seem to be going backwards wqhen we try to go forwards so this fits the pattern!!
In law there is (and in my opinion never should be) such a thing as an illegal refugee. Some of these comments are disgraceful, it seems too me, and are well on the way to inciting violence and should be carefully monitored by whoever has the responsibility for monitoring them ( I assume someone moderates this blog?)… they haven’t crossed a line yet but are clearly sailing right up to it. This will be denied, of course… and maybe they can’t see what the top of slippery slopes look like.
If the contributors don’t understand the problem they should perhaps take a break from contributing and do some deep thinking about what it might be like to have lost everything, not just possessions and property but parents, children family and friends, slaughtered. Most of these people come from war torn countries. They often have no legal status anywhere in the world. That’s a statistic you may not like but is the actual fact.
It would be sad if UKDJ becomes a blog for the alt-right. So here’s my riposte for the sake of balance..
(Why do so many clearly alt-right commentators deny they are alt-right when what they say is exactly the stuff that defines alt-right?)
Yes, I’m Woke, wide awoke and sharp as a tack.. and fact checked .. and not in the Daily Wail…… the alternative is to live in an illusion of half truth and fear.
Free speech always costs somebody, somewhere, a lot. Usually somebody else, somewhere else.
What exactly are we wanting to defend? Not a society filled with these alt-right attitudes, for sure.
Reading your comment, it’s clear you’re far-left and a supporter of Europe welcoming everyone without any controls. Well, if you want to impose your extremist censorship, I couldn’t care less. We’re fed up with people like you who want to impose their endophobic thinking on Western culture. If the people vote for Reform UK, what would you do? Imprison them? It’s truly frightening.
Crikey, what are you reading ?
Maybe you just want a rise ?
Oh well, free speach and all that 😁
Yes, the Bangladeshis were fleeing Britain, hiding in the back of trucks because their families had been slaughtered here and all of their worldly belongings were seized.
I can’t a;llow you to get away with the charge that people ar far right because they are not in favour of illegal immigrants. Three questions… What do “illegals” contribute other than a drain on resources already over stretched? Is it right that they should receive preferential treatment for benefits, housiing and NHS treatment over an d above folk who have been waiting for years sometimes? Is it right that we should allow them to be trafficked by thugs with many ending up dead or seriously ill when it could be stopped? Before you come back to me I would have you know that I have experience about all three questions and I have voted Conservative and Labour. I an certainly no a fascist !
Never any interest nor comments upon defence matters though comrade – how does it work?, do you have a system that automatically alerts you to “nasty Far Right” words and fires you into action or are you related to the shopkeeper in Mr Ben? 🤔
In short, utter Cobblers.
Yes, I’m concerned about immigration.
That and Defence are my two greatest concerns for my country.
And, my own father was an immigrant.
Get this…he came here in 1962, and was only allowed to even get off the ship as he had a job offer in place. Know what, he was as sick to the back teeth with the level of illegal immigration as many of us Brits to the day he died.
And all you see is far right?
You are aware that amongst your refugees the majority are actually economic migrants who hope to get settled here before applying for their families to join them?
So 1 becomes 4, 5, 10? And on and on.
A 56 million population for the early half of my life is now what, near 65, 68 million, not sure?
Unsustainable.
This subject needs a national referendum and debate, as I’m SICK TO DEATH of being called far right or right wing for having an opinion that differs.
And I’ve a right to express it, this remains a free country and until it isn’t I’ll say my piece despite mud slinging nonsense like that.
And you know what, this crap is exactly why parties like Reform are rising.
YOU. DO. NOT. LISTEN.
Now, I’m going back to Defence.
And what happened to the “travellers” ? Were they all detained and investigated to see if they were fleeing because they were wanted by the police ? Were they deported back to Bangladesh if they were in the UK illegally ?
I heard they were sent to Wales,
“They keep a welcome on the Hillsides”
🫡☺️
Friendly bunch !
Yes WE are and too bloody soft for our own good (allegedly) 😊
You must sometimes feel you are surrounded by Zulu’s “Thousands of em”.
“Front rank, Fire, reload”
🐏🐏🐏
Drive past any school at letting out time and you certainly wonder what country you are in. I have NEVER seen it like this before.
Thanks for your replies… here are my responses… enjoy!
Geoff Roach said
I can’t a;llow you to get away with the charge that people ar far right because they are not in favour of illegal immigrants. Three questions… What do “illegals” contribute other than a drain on resources already over stretched? Is it right that they should receive preferential treatment for benefits, housiing and NHS treatment over an d above folk who have been waiting for years sometimes? Is it right that we should allow them to be trafficked by thugs with many ending up dead or seriously ill when it could be stopped? Before you come back to me I would have you know that I have experience about all three questions and I have voted Conservative and Labour. I an certainly no a fascist !
Wyn’s reply: I’m not in favour of “illegal immigration” either. It contributes nothing to the economy. But then I never said anything to suggest I did support it! If you think I did read it again. I point out that the term is unhelpful as the people we’re talking about are seeking ASYLUM and cannot, in law, be illegal. They have no legal status anywhere and need asylum somewhere.
Legal immigrants and visa workers generally add a great deal to the UK economy as well as making the NHS and Care services work!
I am certainly not supporting trafficking them by thugs or anybody else. If we had a system for receiving them in a civilised manner there would be no scope for the criminal gangs. It would also, I believe, prove a lot cheaper in the long run.
I am very well aware that certain parts of our society have genuine grievances about work and housing and so on… the mistake is to blame everything on immigration, which is a frequently made claim which has no foundation in fact.
We do, however, need to take these grievances seriously, otherwise our democracy is under threat from the alt-right, which by definition, does not regard democracy very highly.
And indeed not all anti-immigrant attitudes are alt-right. But the point is no-one should be anti-immigrant. We should compassionately understand why there’s a problem and do something about it. Stigmatising people is never any good. We live in a global village and everyone is my brother. To believe anyting else if the weakest defence position tere is.
Micki said
Reading your comment, it’s clear you’re far-left and a supporter of Europe welcoming everyone without any controls. Well, if you want to impose your extremist censorship, I couldn’t care less. We’re fed up with people like you who want to impose their endophobic thinking on Western culture. If the people vote for Reform UK, what would you do? Imprison them? It’s truly frightening.
Wyn’s reply:Censorship.. What censorship?… inciting violence is a criminal offence. So we must be careful how we speak and write.
endophobic… I’ve learned a new word, thank you. No, I don’t think so. I am aware that true democracy is under threat from the alt-right.
I have voted Conservative, Labour, Liberal Democrat and Plaid Cymru in my 71 years. I would call myself an old fashioned entrist-iberal. Communism is a disaster. I wouldn’t imprison anybody for legitimate political views. So long a Reform remains within morally acceptable norms they can carry on. I am not sure they will… but that’s just my opinion.
I’m frightened not by them or healthy debate but by this:
Fact checked:
The alt-right (abbreviated from “alternative right”) is a far-right, primarily online, white nationalist movement that rejects mainstream conservatism in favor of ideologies based on explicit racism, white supremacy, and anti-Semitism.
Core Ideology and Beliefs
White Nationalism/Supremacy: A defining feature is the belief that “white identity” is under attack by multiculturalism, political correctness, and immigration. Many adherents advocate for a white separatist ethnostate and the preservation of a homogeneous “white” culture and identity.
Anti-Egalitarianism: The movement generally rejects the principles of liberal democracy, equality, and universalism.
Identity Politics: It promotes a form of identity politics specifically in favor of European Americans and white people internationally.
Prejudice: Many members are explicitly anti-Semitic, Islamophobic, anti-feminist, and misogynistic, often promoting conspiracy theories such as the “white genocide” theory, which claims a Jewish plot to eliminate the white race.
Rejection of Mainstream Conservatism: Adherents view traditional conservatives as weak for not adequately prioritizing white racial interests and for accepting certain liberal ideas.
That’s what I’m against.
TiredRedLies said
Never any interest nor comments upon defence matters though comrade – how does it work?, do you have a system that automatically alerts you to “nasty Far Right” words and fires you into action or are you related to the shopkeeper in Mr Ben?
Wyn’s reply:Might I refer you to look at many comments I’ve made over the years from defending the Red Arrows, arguing that not only Ireland but also Switzerland and Austria should join NATO, and today a piece about P8 Poseidon. I have rather a lot to say (and ask) about defence.
Alt-right is pretty easy to spot once you know what it is! I had an aunt who was a shopkeeper – does that count, do you think?
Jack said
Yes, the Bangladeshis were fleeing Britain, hiding in the back of trucks because their families had been slaughtered here and all of their worldly belongings were seized.
Wyn’s reply:If they were visiting family then they wouldn’t be illegal and could travel to France like everyone else. I think you need to unravel your argument a bit more to see when it isn’t logical.
halfwit said
Crikey, what are you reading ? Maybe you just want a rise ? Oh well, free speach and all that
Wyn’s reply:I’m retired, about yes to a raise!. All for free speech.. that’s why we’re having this debate!
What am I reading? … BBC, New York Times, Reuters, even UKDJ and Flight Global. I used to read The Conversation but it got expensive, now I’m retired. I do subscribe to BBC Science Focus magazine. I have been known to look at Al Jazeira for a different point of view, though not for some time… What about you – what do you read?
Fact check… you could do this too ….
Q Do most asylum seekers come from war torn countries?
Fact checked unbiased answer:
Yes, the majority of asylum seekers come from countries experiencing war, conflict, persecution, and instability, like Syria, Afghanistan, Venezuela, Eritrea, and Sudan, though reasons can also include extreme poverty or climate issues; major waves of claims often follow specific geopolitical conflicts, but people also flee for non-conflict reasons like lack of opportunity or to join family, leading to diverse nationalities seeking safety globally.
Q Do immigrants get preferential treatment over UK nationals?
Fact checked unbiased answer:
No, immigrants do not generally get preferential treatment over UK nationals, but some vulnerable groups like refugees and asylum seekers receive specific, often immediate, access to essential services like primary healthcare and emergency hospital care, which can appear preferential but is based on humanitarian need and UK obligations, while access to social housing or mainstream benefits is generally harder for them than for citizens. UK citizens and permanent residents have broader access to the welfare system and housing.
Q Do asylum seekers have more rights than UK citizens?
Fact checked unbiased answer:
Once someone is determined as needing protection, they become known as a refugee. Until they receive a decision as to whether or not they are a refugee, they are known as an asylum seeker. In the UK, this means they do not have the same rights as a refugee or a British citizen would.
Q What proportion of asylum seekers are children?
Fact checked unbiased answer:
The proportion of children among asylum seekers varies, but recent UK data (Year ending June 2025) shows children (under 18) make up about 18% (11% male + 7% female) of all asylum applicants, with unaccompanied minors being a smaller, but significant, portion (around 5-8%) of the total, while a broader look at migration routes (2016-2024) indicates children comprise a larger share, around 38%, of those arriving via asylum and resettlement.
Q What proportion of asylum seekers are women
Fact checked unbiased answer:
Data shows that in recent UK figures, women aged 18+ were around 21-22% of applicants, but overall, women and children together form a significant portion, with men making up the bulk of initial adult arrivals.
Q How many asylum seekers are criminals?
Fact checked unbiased answer:
Analysis by the Migration Advisory Committee found that immigrants from outside the European Economic Area (a group more likely to include asylum seekers) had a conviction/caution share (4.7%) that was roughly similar to their share of the total population aged 16 or over (4.3%). When controlling for factors like age and sex, non-citizens may even be underrepresented in the prison population.
And lastly, folks… Please use your spell checkers and grammar checkers, so there are no unnecessary misunderstandings!
Hi Wyn.
Nice post, you defended free speech and your view yet condemned others in your original post?
But I’m a Cultural Nationalist, not a white supremicist or racist. So is just about everyone I know who has a view on this subject. There is a big difference. There is room for all colours, religions and creeds in this country, as long as they integrate and prioritise this nation.
If they are, I’m proud of them.
That clearly does not happen in many areas, you left that out when you accused the posters of being far right for views much of which I myself agree with.
My country is becoming a hotel for the world’s poor and it can only go on for so long before there are society issues, it is happening right now.
Calling for mods to clamp down on a view isn’t helping that, it’s as bad as removing Juries, and cancelling elections, both of which are suggested to be in HMGs in tray and this only pushes people even further right.
A referendum and national conversation is needed, not calling for views to be censored.
My view.
Regards.
Thanks Daniele.
This is so much fun! But I’m deadly serious.
My comments are combative. They’re meant to be in face of people making light of people trafficking and showing a total lack of compassion for human beings caught in poverty traps. (The… they should have helped kind of remarks, see above.. it’s not funny if it’s you’re the one in the back of the lorry.) Laugh with, always. But never laugh at.
You support folk saying outrageous things on here… but as soon as I object you say I’m against free speech. You do not offer a coherent world view. Immigration and people seeking asylum are not identical issues, and if you don’t get that you don’t really understand what’s going on.
They are being driven to the right.. because the alt-right is unscrupulous, divisive, dishonest and opportunistic.
You are right that the numbers asking for asylum are problematic. It is unsustainable. But the reason I write what I do is that no one can solve the problem without first accepting that these are real people who need help, from someone, somewhere. What kind of third rate country are you wanting it is suffers from aid fatigue? Poverty in this country is relative. It doesn’t compare to what many of these seekers after asylum has experienced. They are mostly not criminals, often well educated, and have mostly lost everything. I’m talking about asylum seekers… immigration is something else. Our rules are very hard… and the NHS and Care of elderly will suffer, as I have seen from professional and family experience.
The idea that we’re “becoming a hotel for the worlds’s poor” has no basis in fact. it’s a point of view based on misinformation. UK has 10 million people born overseas – 16%. Germany has 16 million.- 20% In France it’s about 10%… so we’re in the middle. We aren’t not a soft touch, unless you believe the Daily Mail which has never let the truth get in the way of a good story.
You have a lot to say about defence – but if your opinions on defence are as lacking in evidence as your “poor people” argument, why should we take any regard for what you say? Opinion is cheap. A sustained argument requires research. facts and objectivity.
We, as a nation, like other nations, made our money exploiting the poor. We have moral duty to give something back … and we’re a long way from fulfilling that.
Cultural nationalist?… whose culture?… there is no single British culture, and never has been. Wales, Ireland and Scotland are very different to England and to each other and regional differences in England are very well documented. A pint and a fag down the pub on a Friday night and the match on Saturday is a tiny part of the UK culture.
Feck me 😂
Reading your specific reply to my comment, underlines your lack of basic awareness about the way your own comments appeared.
I’m sure no long winded explanation of that would even cause a dent so I’m happy to believe you are seeking the “Rise” I mentioned.
If you see ULYA on your travels, say hello from me.
Wonderful isn’t it? It’s great. We’ve even got Anglo-Saxon boat people!
The Gentleman has a bottle….Sir.
Needs to put the stopper back !!!
You mean principled, properly researched and well argued? and not letting folk get away with making light of people being trafficked. Thank you. Delighted to help.
Hilarious. The Voluntary return scheme would have paid them!! What a comical Omni shambles.