People smugglers locked children as young as two inside 'coffin-like' wardrobes

[Premi5]

Wonder if all the smuggled people were Sikhs ?

https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/uk-news/people-smugglers-locked-refugee-children-23927198

People smugglers locked children as young as two inside 'coffin-like' wardrobes

By

Kit Roberts

• 14:31, 11 MAY 2022
• UPDATED18:19, 11 MAY 2022

The group was given a combined sentence of more than 24 years for smuggling 35 Afghan refugees including children as young as two

 

Five people smugglers who locked desperate migrants inside 'coffin-like hides' have been jailed for a combined total of 24 years and two months, the Home Office said. The gang members were sentenced following a trial at Reading Crown Court on May 9.

Paramjeet Singh Baweja, 50, and Viljit Singh Khurana, 45, organised the illegal passage of 35 Afghan refugees, including children as young as two and one person with physical disabilities, into the UK. The refugees were concealed within purpose-built wooden hides which were screwed into place.

The hides were fitted into vans, which were then driven through French, Belgian, and UK ports. Some migrants were only discovered after they were heard shouting for help.

 

The hides, which were surrounded by furniture loaded into the back of the vans, were used to conceal up to seven people each journey. One group of refugees were discovered "while shouting for their lives" at the point of being unloaded, the Home Office said.

Baweja and Khurana pleaded guilty to charges relating to the purchase of the vans and co-ordinating between drivers and minders. Baweja was jailed for six years and nine months, while Khurana was given a six-year sentence.

The refugees were screwed into 'hides' which were concealed inside a van

Harmohan Singh, 41, and Manmohan Singh Wadhwa, 57, were also sentenced in connection with the case. They were found to be the "minders" who escorted the vans and drivers, and were both jailed for three years and four months.

Romanian national Dumitru Bacelan, 29, pleaded guilty to charges relating to the recruitment and organising of drivers. His role also included booking hotels and travel around the UK and Europe