Vietnamese smuggler, known as "Thanh," has revealed details of his 20-year career in the illegal migration industry in an interview with the BBC. Thanh, now seeking asylum in the UK after crossing the Channel in a small boat this year, admitted to forging documents and facilitating crossings for Vietnamese nationals pursuing new lives in Europe.

Over two decades, Thanh has navigated a dangerous and profitable path in people smuggling, spanning collaborations with French gangs and Kurdish groups who handle Channel crossings. He claims to have helped over 1,000 migrants, with fees reaching $20,000 for a route from Vietnam through mainland Europe to the UK.

Thanh’s operation relies on forged documents to secure legal work visas, particularly for Hungary. He describes collaboration with certain Vietnamese banks, providing clients with fake bank statements and payslips required for visa applications. His own Channel crossing was perilous, involving crowded rubber boats and evasive measures to avoid French police.

Initially, Thanh claimed he was trafficked to the UK, fleeing debts from a failed business. Later, however, he confessed this was a fabricated narrative, adding that many Vietnamese migrants similarly claim trafficking to support asylum applications. According to Thanh, "most Vietnamese pay smugglers voluntarily for illegal entry to Europe" and work illegally, often on UK cannabis farms under exploitative conditions.

Experts have varied perspectives on his assertions. Some argue that many Vietnamese migrants are exploited as labor for criminal gangs, while others view the process as loosely connected smuggling efforts rather than organized trafficking. Thanh insists he only provides logistical support, denying any coercion or exploitation. Yet, he expresses regret for his criminal life, now seeking to dissuade Vietnamese citizens from pursuing illegal entry to the UK, claiming "it is no longer lucrative or safe."

Thanh’s story underscores the complexities between trafficking and smuggling, driven by migrants’ desperation and economic need. He calls on governments to "publicize the limited opportunities for illegal migrants and the real risks involved." His insights provide a rare look into a secretive industry where individuals risk everything for a chance at a better future.