In a significant case highlighting the dark underbelly of human trafficking and organised crime, three Vietnamese nationals have been convicted in the United Kingdom for their roles in a gang that exploited trafficked migrants by forcing them to work in cannabis farms across the country. Mai Van Nguyen, Doung Dinh, and Nghia Dinh Tran were found guilty at Birmingham Crown Court following a seven-week trial, shedding light on the harrowing conditions endured by vulnerable migrants and the ruthless operations of criminal networks spanning continents.
The convictions mark a critical step in the UK’s ongoing battle against organised immigration crime, with the National Crime Agency (NCA) describing the case as a stark reminder of the exploitation faced by migrants lured to foreign shores under false pretences. Beyond the immediate legal outcomes, this case raises broader questions about the systemic vulnerabilities that enable such crimes and the challenges of protecting those most at risk.
A Network of Exploitation
At the heart of the operation was Mai Van Nguyen, a 35-year-old from Birmingham, identified by the NCA as the ringleader of the gang. Nguyen orchestrated large-scale cannabis production across the Midlands, London, and northern England, using trafficked migrants as forced labour to maintain and harvest the illegal crops. Working alongside him were Doung Dinh, 38, also from Birmingham, and Nghia Dinh Tran, 24, from London, who played key roles in managing the day-to-day exploitation of the victims. 
The court heard chilling testimony from a Vietnamese migrant, referred to as ‘Witness Z’, who recounted his ordeal after arriving in the UK by boat in November 2020. Having borrowed money to fund medical treatment for his wife, Witness Z sought to repay his debts by working in the UK. Upon arrival, he was given a contact number by his traffickers and, after being processed by immigration authorities, was transported from London to Birmingham. There, he was forced to work in a cannabis farm in Tipton, West Midlands, with no option to refuse due to the debts he owed his handlers.
Witness Z’s story is emblematic of the coercion and control exerted by the gang. He described being moved between multiple locations, including another cannabis farm in Tyseley, Birmingham, where he was tasked with clearing up the property, and later to a site in Hartlepool, Teesside. During a raid by Cleveland Police in June 2021, authorities found a note pinned to a bedroom door at the Hartlepool property reading, “take what you want, please don’t hit me, I do not know English.” A handwritten diary extract from another migrant at the site poignantly asked, “why did I get beaten up and forced to work?”
Raids and Arrests Uncover Scale of Operation
The NCA investigation revealed a sprawling network of cannabis farms linked to the gang, with operations uncovered in locations as diverse as Tipton, Coventry, and Edgbaston in the West Midlands, as well as Derby, Hartlepool, East Ham in London, and Gatley in Cheshire. Harvested cannabis was also recovered from a property in Hall Green, Birmingham, underscoring the scale and profitability of the enterprise.
Arrests followed a series of coordinated raids. Nghia Dinh Tran was apprehended at a cannabis farm in Chaddesden, Derby, where dozens of plants and two additional migrants were discovered. Authorities later linked Tran to another farm in Birmingham’s Chad Road. Doung Dinh was arrested at his partner’s address in Birmingham in August 2022, while Mai Van Nguyen was initially detained in Liverpool in connection with a separate migrant smuggling plot involving heavy goods vehicles (HGVs). Nguyen was later re-arrested in September 2022 for his role in the cannabis production and trafficking offences.
Nguyen and Tran pleaded guilty to conspiring to produce cannabis, while all three Vietnamese nationals, alongside three other non-Vietnamese individuals, were ultimately convicted on all charges on 24 February 2025. The six men have been remanded in custody and are scheduled for sentencing on 4 July 2025.
Human Cost of Organised Crime
The case lays bare the human cost of organised immigration crime, a priority area for the NCA. Kevin Broadhead, an NCA Branch Commander, condemned the gang’s actions, stating, “These men were responsible for the exploitation of a number of migrants who they moved around the UK and forced to work in cannabis farms. Not only were the migrants transported to the UK in incredibly dangerous ways in lorries or in boats, but they were then made to live in degrading conditions in order to pay off their debt bondage. We know some were also subjected to violence.”
Broadhead’s remarks highlight a grim reality: for the gang, the migrants were little more than a means to generate profit. The combination of debt bondage, physical violence, and psychological coercion created a cycle of exploitation from which escape was nearly impossible. Migrants, often driven by desperation to seek better lives or support families back home, found themselves trapped in a web of criminality with no recourse to safety or justice.
Systemic Challenges and Global Implications
While the convictions are a victory for law enforcement, they also point to deeper systemic issues that fuel human trafficking and exploitation. Vietnam, a country with significant economic disparities and a history of outbound migration, remains a source nation for trafficked individuals. Many leave rural areas seeking opportunities abroad, only to fall prey to criminal networks promising safe passage and work. The journey itself is perilous, often involving dangerous crossings in overcrowded boats or hidden compartments in lorries, as noted in Witness Z’s testimony.
In the UK, the demand for cheap labour in illegal industries such as cannabis production creates a market for trafficked individuals. The profitability of these operations—evidenced by the multiple farms run by Nguyen’s gang—ensures that such networks continue to thrive despite law enforcement efforts. Addressing this issue requires not only targeting the criminals at the top but also disrupting the economic incentives that sustain their activities.
Moreover, the case underscores the need for stronger international cooperation. Trafficking networks operate across borders, exploiting gaps in immigration systems and legal jurisdictions. Collaboration between Vietnamese authorities and their UK counterparts could help dismantle these networks at their roots, while also providing better protection and support for potential victims before they embark on dangerous journeys.
There is also the question of migrant welfare post-rescue. While raids like those conducted by the NCA and Cleveland Police can free individuals from immediate exploitation, the long-term challenges of rehabilitation, legal status, and psychological trauma remain significant. Without comprehensive support systems, rescued migrants may remain vulnerable to re-exploitation or face deportation to uncertain futures in their home countries.
A Call for Broader Action
The convictions of Mai Van Nguyen, Doung Dinh, and Nghia Dinh Tran are a stark reminder of the global nature of human trafficking and the urgent need for coordinated action. Beyond the courtroom, this case should serve as a catalyst for governments, NGOs, and international bodies to address the root causes of migration-driven exploitation—poverty, lack of opportunity, and weak legal protections in source countries.
In Vietnam, initiatives to educate communities about the risks of irregular migration and to provide viable economic alternatives could reduce the number of individuals falling into the hands of traffickers. In the UK, continued efforts to crack down on illegal industries and to support rescued migrants are essential to breaking the cycle of exploitation.
As the sentencing date approaches, attention will turn to the penalties handed down to the convicted men. While their punishment will send a message about the consequences of such crimes, it is clear that much more must be done to protect the vulnerable and to dismantle the transnational networks that profit from human misery. For now, the stories of Witness Z and countless others stand as a sobering testament to the resilience of those exploited—and the urgent need for systemic change to prevent such tragedies in the future.
