There has been a significant rise in the number of Vietnamese nationals applying for international protection in Ireland, according to figures from the Department of Justice.
The number of people from Vietnam who have sought asylum in Ireland so far this year is more than double all Vietnamese applications in 2024.
The Garda National Protective Services Bureau - which provides guidance and support for investigations including human trafficking - has also seen a marked increase in the number of Vietnamese claiming to be victims of trafficking in the asylum process.
The number of people from Vietnam who sought asylum in Ireland was low during the Covid-19 pandemic, similar to applications from other countries.
This is reflected in applications which stood at 12 in 2020, 13 in 2021, and 20 in 2022.
In 2023, it rose slightly to 36, then in 2024 it leaped to 251. By mid-August this year it had reached 397 and by 2 October it had reached 520.
Small-boat Channel crossings
The rise, according to Detective Superintendent Derek Maguire of the Garda National Services Bureau, was flagged with gardaí earlier this year and "it hasn't slowed down".
As the UK grapples with small-boat Channel crossings, more Vietnamese attempted to cross from France to the UK in the first half of 2024 than any other nationality.
This is believed to have had an impact on rising numbers in Ireland, and according to the Garda Protective Services Bureau, it can take three or four years for victims to arrive in Ireland.
Trafficked victims identified by gardaí arrive in Ireland after being exploited through numerous countries including Russia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Germany for example.
"Eventually they end up in France in boats across to the UK, where they enter the asylum process there and then they disappear," according to Det Supt Maguire.
The Common Travel Area is viewed as a reason for a rise in the number of Vietnamese coming to Ireland.
Last month, Minister for Justice Jim O'Callaghan has said that "very close" to 87.66% of people claiming international protection are crossing the border from Northern Ireland before claiming asylum here.
While Vietnamese may not be viewed as a nationality "on the radar" with trafficking potential, the marked increase in arrivals this year has been noted by authorities.
Cannabis grow houses and nail bars
Labour trafficking and forced criminality of Vietnamese and Chinese nationals usually centres around cannabis grow houses and nail bars.
The flow of Vietnamese people, being controlled and exploited is often down to a lack of understanding about the situation they end up in when they get to a destination country.
They may pay €500 for a fake passport according to Det Supt Maguire, but that can rise in demands of up to €20,000 when they arrive at their destination.
"They’ll often be ordered to work until they pay the money off not knowing how the demands got so big and far."
In 2023, a victim of human trafficking from Vietnam was arrested by gardaí when he was found working in a cannabis grow house in east Galway.
The Connaught Tribune reported at the time that Loughrea District Court heard how the man had been trafficked into the country and did not realise where he was.
The Garda National Protective Services Bureau does not differentiate where trafficking occurred.
"Each case is taken on its own merits, and each has its own story," according to Det Supt Maguire.
"We get a referral, and it gives a synopsis of what they’re alleging, which includes trafficking and then arrival in Ireland."
He also points out that there is a differentiation between smuggling and trafficking.
People smuggling is a crime against the State, but trafficking is against the person.
In 2019, the bodies of 39 Vietnamese migrants - 31 men and eight women - who had suffocated, were found in the trailer of an articulated refrigerator lorry in Essex in the UK.
They paid "exorbitant fees" to organised crime groups to be smuggled. When it comes to trafficking, they're exploited along the way.
"You can be smuggled, then when you’re exploited - that’s when you're trafficked," he says.
When gardaí see trends like the number of Vietnamese arriving in Ireland, there is often an organised crime element, which leads its specialised unit to work with police in other jurisdictions.
"Traffickers say 'police can’t be trusted and will send you back and in source countries', 'cops may not be as reliable', which leads to fewer of coming forward," he says.
"We've proven it recently with Brazilians and Latvians, we will prosecute the traffickers if you (victims) come forward."
RTÉ News also sought figures on the number of unaccompanied minors arriving in Ireland from Vietnam to see if there were parallels.
While the numbers are not as stark, there has been an increase.
These children are taken into the care of Tusla's separated children seeking international protection team.
Figures from Tusla show there were no Vietnamese young people referred to the team between 2020 and 2023.
In 2024, seven children from Vietnam put into the care of Tusla and by mid- August it had reached 45.
The typical age profile of these young people has been 17+, according to Tusla.
In a statement it said that where a child or young person discloses information that indicates experience of trafficking, or where Tusla staff suspect that the child or young person may have been trafficked, this is reported to An Garda Síochána without delay.
'Inadequate' response
A forum has been established between Tusla and gardaí under the Separated Children Seeking International Protection to "enhance coordination" in responses to missing children and those at risk of trafficking of exploitation.
The Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission which is the National Rapporteur for Trafficking in Ireland, has been increasingly critical of the State’s response to trafficking.
It has said trafficking is present in towns and villages across Ireland, and that trafficking for labour exploitation and criminal purposes is on the rise.
IHREC Chief Commissioner Liam Herrick said that if a clear signal were to be sent to those who traffic people in Ireland, "the long awaited National Referral Mechanism (NRM) must become operational as soon as possible".
The NRM involves State and non-governmental organisations working together to identify victims of human trafficking and ensures that they get support.
"And in order for it to properly support those affected, it must provide statutory protection from prosecution for victims of human trafficking, and also assure victims that assistance and supports are clearly provided for and not conditional on cooperation with criminal investigations and proceedings", he said.
"It is not acceptable that victims of trafficking are vulnerable to being punished by the State for actions they have been forced to commit but over which they had no real control.
"Unfortunately, Ireland’s current overall response to this most egregious human rights violation remains inadequate," he added.
Gardaí want the message to go to victims of trafficking that they can be trusted and will "go after the organised crime groups that exploited you and found you".
The Blue Blindfold campaign, which has been running for a number of years aims to encourage people to report suspicions relating to prostitution, brothels and suspected victims of Human Trafficking.
Ruhama, which supports women affected by prostitution and sex trafficking, has said that when it comes to Vietnamese nationals, it has not seen an increase in victims of sexual exploitation.
