Dutch truck driver smuggled Albanians across channel in sleep cabin, Prosecutors say
A 33-year-old truck driver from Veenendaal allegedly smuggled Albanians into England on three occasions in 2023, hiding them in his truck's sleeping cabin. Prosecutors on Friday demanded a 24-month prison sentence, with eight months suspended, for the man, who reportedly earned the equivalent of a year’s salary from the operation.
The truck driver, whose identity has not been disclosed, worked for a logistics company when he was approached by an individual offering 8,000 pounds (nearly 9,000 euros) per person to smuggle migrants across the English Channel. Following instructions, the driver reportedly picked up two people at a time from a designated location along a highway in Belgium. The individuals hid in the truck’s sleeping compartment before being transported to England.
The Dutch Public Prosecution Service, Openbaar Ministerie (OM), said the driver was part of an illegal network enabling migrants to live undocumented in England. "He exploited vulnerable people for his financial gain," the prosecutor said. "As he admitted himself, by doing this three times, he earned an entire year’s salary."
The smuggling operation reportedly earned the driver over fifty thousand euros, which prosecutors are seeking to confiscate. They also noted his history of gambling addiction, recommending probation supervision upon release to reduce the risk of reoffending.
The court is expected to issue its verdict in two weeks.
