The Smugglers' Trail

Two sisters speak of the friendship they formed on the French camp with a seven year old girl called Hesty. She had made the journey from northern Iraq with her mother, Kajal, sister, Hadia, and brother, Mobin. Their father, Rizgar, is a policeman and had stayed behind to earn enough money to pay smugglers for his passage at a later date. When word of the deaths at sea spread the sisters tried desperately to find out more: they knew that Hesty was making the crossing and immediately feared the worse.

As they describe the anguish of waiting for news they reveal how their own sea crossing, just three days earlier, had also been beset with dangers. But they made it and are now settling into new lives in Blackpool. Their friend from the camp didn't and as they come to terms with what's happened they speak of their hatred of the smugglers involved and their fear that these ruthless individuals might ultimately evade justice.

Reporter: Sue Mitchell

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

In programme two Rob and Sue reveal the extent of frustration felt by families of those who died in the Channel in November. Relatives of some of the 27 victims have been trying to track the smugglers themselves and feel let down by the authorities - some have even gone as far as offering reward money to carry out the ultimate revenge on those they say are responsible.

Two sisters speak of the friendship they formed on the French camp with a seven year old girl called Hesty. She had made the journey from northern Iraq with her mother, Kajal, sister, Hadia, and brother, Mobin. Their father, Rizgar, is a policeman and had stayed behind to earn enough money to pay smugglers for his passage at a later date. When word of the deaths at sea spread the sisters tried desperately to find out more: they knew that Hesty was making the crossing and immediately feared the worse.

As they describe the anguish of waiting for news they reveal how their own sea crossing, just three days earlier, had also been beset with dangers. But they made it and are now settling into new lives in Blackpool. Their friend from the camp didn't and as they come to terms with what's happened they speak of their hatred of the smugglers involved and their fear that these ruthless individuals might ultimately evade justice.

Reporter: Sue Mitchell

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

In programme one Rob Lawrie uses his network of contacts on the French camps to track down a gang leader who admits that he can make up to £100,000 a night from the Channel crossings. The smugger cautiously explains to Rob how things work, from the way that money changes hands and is laundered, through to the scenes that migrants face as they gather on the beaches waiting to make that journey from France to the UK.

This startling interview is given added tension because it takes place in a forest clearing as night sets in. Rob himself is searched before he is given access to the smuggler, who is guarded throughout by five armed men. Producer Sue Mitchell joins them by phone and both she and Rob tackle the smuggler over his role in the deaths of a family of five, who drowned when their boat sank just a few miles out from the French coast.

Produced by Sue Mitchell

Sue Mitchell & Rob Lawrie investigate smuggling networks, exposing some of those involved.

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

This series charts the rise of the smuggling networks and how they operate across the globe. 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.

In programme one Rob Lawrie uses his network of contacts on the French camps to track down a gang leader who admits that he can make up to £100,000 a night from the Channel crossings. The smugger cautiously explains to Rob how things work, from the way that money changes hands and is laundered, through to the scenes that migrants face as they gather on the beaches waiting to make that journey from France to the UK.

This startling interview is given added tension because it takes place in a forest clearing as night sets in. Rob himself is searched before he is given access to the smuggler, who is guarded throughout by five armed men. Producer Sue Mitchell joins them by phone and both she and Rob tackle the smuggler over his role in the deaths of a family of five, who drowned when their boat sank just a few miles out from the French coast.

Produced by Sue Mitchell

Sue Mitchell & Rob Lawrie investigate smuggling networks, exposing some of those involved.

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

For vulnerable children in Ukraine the dangers posed by those involved in trafficking are huge and charities are reporting growing concerns about the number of orphans who have disappeared from the system. Rob Lawrie joins a team of US military special operations veterans from Aerial Recovery who are working with the Government to rescue vulnerable children from combat zones. From the orphanages they can then be taken to safe areas where they can be properly processed.

According to Martin Kvernbekk, from the Norwegian branch of the refugee charity, Salam, this wasn't happening at the start of the war, when children dropped at the Poland-Ukraine border by well-meaning organisations were in danger of being targeted by smugglers: `They're very easy prey - they're looking for assistance, so if you're an adult with some candy, food or refuge, they will come with you, they don't know any better.`

He describes how people smugglers wearing reflective vests pretended to belong to organisations helping the relief effort: `The gangs are very advanced - it's big, well-financed networks that do this for a living. They're good at this in peace time,` he says, `Now it's a war, it's chaos, and they're exploiting the fact that there is disorder to be able to snatch more kids and women.`

Sue Mitchell and Rob Lawrie investigate how smugglers hope to profit from war in Ukraine.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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