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The Story

Inside the fastest growing human trafficking route to the UK

The Story

The Times

Politics, News Analysis, Investigative Reporting, Exclusive Interviews, Long-form Audio, In-depth Journalism, Audio Storytelling, Current Affairs, Global News, Uk News, Daily News Podcast, Unknown, Daily News, News

41.5K Ratings

🗓️ 12 August 2025

⏱️ 33 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Fifty thousand people have crossed the channel in dangerous small boats since the government promised to ‘smash’ the people-smuggling gangs at the last election. Among those arriving, Vietnamese people have become the fastest growing nationality, but why? Our reporter, Shayma Bakht, has gone inside this new clandestine smuggling route taken by those looking to come to the UK from Vietnam.

This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestory

Guest: Shayma Bakht, News Reporter, The Times. 

Host: Luke Jones.

Producer: Anna Dowell. 

Read more: What I saw on the trafficking route that ships ‘slaves’ to the UK

Clips: Sky News, ITV News, BBC News. 

Photo: The Times. 

Get in touch: [email protected]  


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Transcript

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0:00.0

There's a lot we're told about bladder lakes.

0:02.5

We're told it's something to be feared.

0:04.7

But it means that you have to stop doing the things that you love.

0:07.3

But it means weakness.

0:09.5

Really?

0:10.5

Tenna Discrete offers a range of pads uniquely designed to make living life within continents so much easier.

0:16.8

And to give you Tenna triple protection, offering up to 12 hours of dryness.

0:20.8

It's time to rethink ladder leaks.

0:22.7

Visit tena.com.ukuk forward slash women.

0:25.4

Always seek medical advice from your GP or pelvic health specialist.

0:34.1

From the Times and the Sunday Times, this is the story.

0:37.4

I'm Luke Jones.

0:42.1

One of the big political issues this summer is small boats.

0:46.2

Despite Labour promising to smash the gangs, we have had 50,000 people illegally crossed the channel since the election.

0:53.5

There's been anger and violence in places like Epping.

1:01.6

New policy from government, speeding up asylum applications and a one-in-one out deal with the French.

1:07.9

People coming illegally on small boats can be returned and in exchange

1:12.0

we will transfer people who've applied lawfully and who've been through proper security checks.

1:18.4

But who is actually in these small boats? It wasn't what we would have thought would be the

1:24.7

beginning of the story of, you know, thousands of people

1:28.6

risking their lives to come to the UK for a better life.

1:32.7

A reporter colleague has been looking deep into one particular and perhaps surprising nationality,

...

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