26 arrests made in connection with Essex lorry deaths

Twenty six suspected members of a major smuggling gang have been arrested in Belgium and France as part of the investigation into the deaths of 39 Vietnamese nationals in a lorry trailer in England last year.

The arrests were made early this morning in an operation coordinated by Eurojust and Europol, two European Union crime agencies.

Thirteen of the arrests took place in the Brussels area of Belgium, and the other 13 in the French capital Paris.

In a statement, Eurojust said the suspects are allegedly part of an organised crime group that smuggles refugees from Asia, particularly from Vietnam.

It believes the group being investigated "has transported up to several dozen people every day for several months."

Eurojust said the deaths of the 39 people whose bodies were found in a refrigerated trailer in Essex last October prompted the creation of a joint investigation team between Belguim, Ireland, France, the UK, Eurojust and Europol.

"These coordinated arrests are a strong signal to migrant smuggling groups that judiciary and law enforcement communities in the EU are joining forces to detect, investigate and prosecute this kind of serious crime," the statement added.

Eurojust, the EU agency for criminal justice cooperation, was established in 2002.

Its aim is to support cooperation between national judicial and policing authorities to combat terrorism and serious organised crime affecting more than one EU country.