The Smugglers' Trail

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Sue Mitchell and Rob Lawrie investigate human trafficking, exposing some of those involved

With migrant boat crossings on the rise and with the dangers well documented, Sue Mitchell and Rob Lawrie track the smugglers and expose some of the gangs behind this deadly trade.

With migrant boat crossings on the rise and with the dangers well documented, BBC presenter Sue Mitchell and aid worker and former British soldier Rob Lawrie uncover the money that changes hands as migrants cross borders and expose some of those profiting from their desperation.

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The Smugglers' Trail: The UK Based Gangs

The UK Based Gangs

BBC Radio 4 - The Smugglers' Trail, The UK Based Gangs

Sue Mitchell and Rob Lawrie investigate the UK based smugglers and the money they launder.

In the third part of this series BBC Reporter, Sue Mitchell and aid worker, Rob Lawrie, are on the trail of the UK based smugglers and investigating the illegal profits they make.

With the smuggling operations becoming ever more sophisticated and with networks now spanning the globe, Sue Mitchell and Rob Lawrie are on the trail of British based gangs involved in human trafficking.

In this programme they hear from people in those gangs about how things work and the risks that are taken with human life. Confronting one smuggler leads to his admission that the profits are so huge from illegal boat and lorry crossings that he can not stop. He admits there are dangers to the migrants involved, but claims that he has also had a hard life and needs this financial security.

Another smuggler talks of ways they avoid detection, including paying off French police - an account which is later put to the French authorities. From the UK investigative side the head of the National Crime Agency's Organised Immigration Crime Division, Martin Grace, says there are more than fifty operations underway and there have been a number of successful prosecutions to date. One problem faced is the delicate balancing act, where the need to collect evidence has to be weighed against the need to intervene when risks are faced at sea.

Throughout this programme we follow the experiences of fifteen year old Bit Bok: two years ago she was on the French camp negotiating the passage for her, her brother, sister and parents. They are now settled in Gateshead and she is on the brink of seeing her acting dreams become a reality: she's auditioning for a place on a prestigious course. The bravery she showed in the boat crossing is even playing a part in the dramatic monologue she performs at her audition and as she waits to hear the results she reflects on the direction her life has taken.

Reporter: Sue Mitchell

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