Smugglers Nabbed at Dover in High-Stakes Sting
Marius Bajenaru, 44, and Sorin-Costinel Ivan, 46, were caught red-handed at Dover port on 18 September 2025 in a dramatic National Crime Agency (NCA) raid. Dover, one of the UK’s busiest gateways, became the scene of a major bust involving desperate migrants packed into vehicles.
Shock Hauls: Vans and Lorries Packed with Migrants
- Bajenaru was found with 17 migrants stuffed inside his Romanian-registered panel van. Officers also uncovered nearly £4,000 in cash hidden in his cab.
- Ivan’s HGV trailer was crammed with 32 mostly Bangladeshi migrants. Bundles totalling almost £10,000 were seized from his lorry cab.
Courts Slam Door Shut on People Smugglers
Under pressure, Bajenaru admitted picking up migrants from a layby on the A20 near Ashford and pocketing around £200 per person. Ivan initially denied any knowledge but later pled guilty to aiding illegal immigration.
Report dated 27 November 2025
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