Two Romanian drivers have been jailed after attempting to smuggle nearly 50 migrants out of the UK and into France in separate incidents uncovered during a National Crime Agency (NCA) operation at Dover Port. The arrests took place on 18 September 2025 and involved coordinated efforts between the NCA, Port of Dover Police, Kent Police, and Immigration Enforcement.
The first driver, 44-year-old Marius Bajenaru, was stopped with 17 migrants hidden in the rear of his Romanian-registered panel van. Officers also discovered almost £4,000 in cash sealed inside a black plastic bag in his cab. The second driver, 46-year-old Sorin-Costinel Ivan, was intercepted shortly afterward. Authorities found 32 people inside the trailer of his HGV, most of them Bangladeshi nationals. During the search, three bundles of cash totalling £9,950 were recovered from his cab.
Both men were arrested and questioned by NCA investigators. Bajenaru immediately confessed, admitting he had collected the migrants from a layby on the A20 near Ashford. He also revealed he expected to be paid around £200 for each person he transported. His admission provided investigators with key details about how organised smuggling groups coordinate pick-ups along major transport routes.
Ivan initially denied knowing that the 32 migrants were inside his trailer, though he admitted he had also visited a layby along the A20. As the investigation progressed and evidence mounted, he changed his plea and admitted a charge of facilitating illegal immigration.
The pair appeared at Canterbury Crown Court on Tuesday, 25 November, where both were sentenced for their roles in the smuggling operation. Ivan received a prison term of three years and four months, while Bajenaru was jailed for two years and eight months. The court noted the seriousness of their actions, the risks posed to the migrants, and the financial incentives involved.
Their arrests came just weeks after the NCA issued a warning that organised crime groups are actively targeting professional drivers—particularly those in the haulage industry—to smuggle migrants across the Channel. These crime networks frequently attempt to recruit drivers by describing the job as low-risk and easy money, a characterization authorities strongly dispute.
NCA Senior Investigating Officer John Turner emphasised the dangers, stating that the case demonstrates how drivers face life-changing prison sentences if caught. He warned that criminal networks treat migrants as commodities and show little concern for their safety during dangerous cross-border movements. Many smuggling attempts involve cramped, airless compartments that put individuals at serious risk of injury or death.
Turner added that the NCA, in partnership with Port of Dover Police, Kent Police, Border Force, and international agencies, is working continuously to disrupt organised networks and prevent further attempts. Intelligence-led operations remain a key component of this strategy, alongside greater vigilance within the haulage sector.
In 2023, the NCA, Border Force, and Crimestoppers launched an awareness campaign encouraging those in the transport industry to report suspicious activity. Authorities say continued cooperation from drivers and logistics companies will be essential to combating smuggling attempts on both sides of the Channel.
