Couple jailed for facilitating illegal entry to the UK

A couple has been jailed for illegally bringing two teenagers into the UK from Vietnam.

Thi Kieu Anh Hoang, 29, and Tuan Khac Doan, 38, both of Sandfields, Frodsham, previously pleaded guilty to facilitating illegal entry to the UK.

The couple appeared at Chester Crown Court on Tuesday 4 February where Hoang was sentenced to 27 months and Doan received 54 months.

An investigation revealed two teenagers had travelled to the UK from Vietnam on 27 June 2023. Also on the same flight was Doan, who had travelled from Frodsham to Vietnam shortly before. Papers showed the two teenagers, a 16-year-old boy and a 14-year-old girl, were travelling to the UK as part of a two-week educational visit to Oxford with nine other students.

Initially, the two teenagers went to Oxford with the rest of the students, while Doan returned to Frodsham. However, following their arrival in the UK, the two teenagers were given mobile phones, and they made contact with a phone number attributed to Doan on multiple occasions.

On 29 June, Doan travelled from Frodsham to London, and at the same time the teenagers travelled from Oxford to London as part of their educational trip. Doan left London just after 5pm that day, and it is believed that he had arranged to pick up the teenagers there and bring them back to Frodsham.

A few months later, on 29 September, an employee at an estate agency attended an address in Frodsham which was being rented by Hoang and Doan, who were in a relationship. During the visit, he encountered the 14-year-old girl.

On 12 December, officers from the Western Exploitation Team attended a nail bar in Church Street, Frodsham, in company with immigration officers, as part of a routine visit to check on the welfare of staff members.

Hoang was present. The 16-year-old boy was also at the nail bar and after checks were carried out, it was established that he had been reported missing.

Hoang, who was believed to be running the business, stated she did not know the boy and he had walked into the nail salon shortly before police. However, she was arrested under the Modern Slavery Act and a Police Protection Order (PPO) was put in place to safeguard the 16-year-old.

Doan was also present, but he was not arrested as he presented as a worker and did not show any signs of his relationship with Hoang during the visit.

On 14 January 2024, shortly after the immigration visit, Doan made contact with a number attributed to the 14-year-old girl. They both travelled to London, however Doan travelled back to Frodsham without her, in an attempt to stop officers from finding out about her too.

On 15 January 2024, the girl contacted police and asked for help, stating she had been homeless for six months. An investigation was subsequently launched, which linked her to Doan.

As a result, Doan was arrested and charged alongside Hoang.

A third person was originally charged in relation to these offences, however he has since been released with no further action against him.

DS Huxley said:

“It’s clear that Hoang and Doan brought the two teenagers to the UK for the purpose of exploitation.

“These were young, vulnerable teenagers, who thought they were coming for a better life, but instead they were being used for financial gain.

“Following our initial visit to the nail bar in December 2023, Hoang and Doan thought they could cover up their offending by denying any knowledge of the teenage boy and by taking the teenage girl to London.

“But thanks to our partnership working, we were able to piece together a catalogue of evidence against the pair, leaving them with no option but to plead guilty to the charges.

“While this case has now concluded, our work will continue in tackling this type of crime, but we can’t do it alone. We strongly need the community to come forward with any information or suspicions they have and report them to us. Together we can help protect the vulnerable and punish the perpetrators.”