A gang of British residents has been found guilty of helping eight illegal immigrants travel to the United Kingdom on flights from Bangkok and received prison sentences totalling 29 years, at a court in London, earlier this month.

The eight week trial was the culmination of a two year investigation by UK law enforcement agencies in London and Thailand.

The gang acted as escorts for “clients” who would fly from India to Bangkok. On arrival at Suvarnabhumi Airport, clients would be provided with counterfeit passports, visas and boarding passes for flights to London.

On arrival they would claim asylum, having already disposed of their passports and boarding passes to avoid being linked to flights originating in Bangkok.

Andrew Drummond