Detectives investigating the tragic deaths of 39 Vietnamese nationals in Essex are searching for a Romanian man suspected of being involved in the conspiracy.

The Vietnamese men, women and children were found unresponsive in the trailer of a lorry by its driver, in Eastern Avenue, Grays, in the early hours of Wednesday, October 23 2019.

The lorry had travelled from Zeebrugge in Belgium to the Port of Purfleet.

Each of the victims, and their families, had paid significant sums of money to an organised criminal group whose members promised them safe passage to the UK and a life there.

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However, the victims suffocated in the back of the lorry which was being driven by Northern Irishman Maurice Robinson.

So far ten people, including Robinson, have been sentenced for their roles in the deaths of the 39 people.

Their sentences total almost 100 years.

Now officers want to trace Romanian national Marius Mihai Draghici, 48, who they want to speak to in connection with the suspected manslaughter investigation and suspected immigration offences.

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He is suspected of being part of the network which co-ordinated immigrants’ journey to the UK, both in connection with the deaths and on a number of occasions prior to October 23 2019.

Draghici also goes by the aliases Marius Mihai Selaru and Marius Lupu and was born in the Romanian city, Onesti.

He has connections in the Bacau area of Romania as well as in Spain. He is also known to work in the haulage industry.

Essex Police is also working with independent charity Crimestoppers in the hope of obtaining a reward for information on Draghici.

And the force will also be working with partners to get its appeal to the public in Romania and Spain.

Detective Chief Inspector Louise Metcalfe, who is leading the investigation, said: “The investigation into the tragic deaths of the 39 Vietnamese nationals is the most complex ever undertaken by Essex Police.

“So far, we have brought ten people to justice and achieved prison sentences of almost 100 years in total. But we made a promise to the families of those who lost their lives in Essex in October 2019 that we would not stop until justice has been delivered in its entirety.

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“Marius Draghici remains an outstanding suspect and, just as we have promised and already delivered on, our pursuit for justice will not stop at our borders and frontiers.”

Appealing to the public in Romania and Spain, she added: “Draghici is wanted in connection with a very serious offence.

“We strongly believe he is linked to the conspiracy which tragically ripped apart the families of the 39 innocent Vietnamese men, women and children who died on our shores in 2019. The actions we believe he is responsible for cannot go unpunished.

“I would urge anyone with information to please get in touch.”

Chief Superintendent Stuart Hooper, who has overseen the investigation, said there is one "final piece of the jigsaw to be completed" in the probe and that officers are committed to tracking down every individual believed to be connected to the "horrific" crime.