Police arrest 8 people in connection to 39 people found dead in Essex truck

Eight people were arrested in Vietnam Monday as police continue trying to figure out what happened to the 39 Vietnamese nationals who were found dead in a truck in southeast England last month.

“Based on what we learn from the suspects, we will actively launch investigations to fight and eradicate these rings which bring people illegally to Britain,” Nguyen Huu Cau, the Nghe An Province police chief, said, according to Reuters.

“The best thing to do now is to deal with the consequences of the incident and help family members receive the bodies."

Police have said they believe the victims have been transported to England as part of a global human smuggling network, but few details have been publicized.

Two other men, including the truck driver, were also arrested last week and charged with 39 counts of manslaughter, as well as human trafficking and immigration charges.

The 31 men and eight women were found dead in the back of a refrigerated truck trailer in Essex, east of London, on Oct. 23. The victims were initially identified as Chinese but police said later that they believe all 39 are Vietnamese nationals.

None of the victims have been publicly identified yet.