The lorry driver accused of trafficking and killing 39 people found in a lorry container in Essex was part of a “global ring” of smugglers, a court has heard.

Maurice Robinson was engaged in ”the movement of a large number of illegal immigrants into the UK”, according to prosecutors.

Mr Robinson appeared at Chelmsford Magistrates’ Court on Monday charged with manslaughter, money laundering, conspiracy to assist unlawful immigration and conspiracy to traffic people.

It followed the discovery last week of more than three dozen bodies in a Grays industrial estate. After first saying all the deceased were Chinese, Essex Police conceded that some may be Vietnamese.

The defendant was arrested soon after the bodies of eight women and 31 men were found in the refrigerated trailer attached to his Scania cab in an industrial park in Grays on 23 October.

39 bodies found in lorry container in Essex Show all 15 1 /15 39 bodies found in lorry container in Essex 39 bodies found in lorry container in Essex Thirty-nine bodies have been found in a lorry container in Essex, police have said PA 39 bodies found in lorry container in Essex The discovery of 38 adults and one teenager was made at an industrial estate in Thurrock Reuter TV 39 bodies found in lorry container in Essex Police said they believed the lorry had come from Bulgaria and entered the UK at Holyhead, in Wales, on Saturday. Getty 39 bodies found in lorry container in Essex Essex Police said it had launched a murder investigation after its officers were called to Waterglade Industrial Park, in Grays, in the early hours of Wednesday morning Reuter TV 39 bodies found in lorry container in Essex A 25-year-old-man from Northern Ireland has been arrested on suspicion of murder PA 39 bodies found in lorry container in Essex In a statement, Chief Superintendent Andrew Mariner said: “This is a tragic incident where a large number of people have lost their lives. Our enquiries are ongoing to establish what has happened. “We are in the process of identifying the victims, however I anticipate that this could be a lengthy process. Reuter TV 39 bodies found in lorry container in Essex THURROCK, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 23: Police stand near the site where 39 bodies were discovered in the back of a lorry on October 23, 2019 in Thurrock, England. The lorry was discovered early Wednesday morning in Waterglade Industrial Park on Eastern Avenue in the town of Grays. Authorities said they believed the lorry originated in Bulgaria and entered the country at Holyhead on October 19. The suspected driver was arrested in connection with the investigation. (Photo by Leon Neal/Getty Images) Leon Neal Getty 39 bodies found in lorry container in Essex THURROCK, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 23: A Police forensic investigation team are parked near the site where 39 bodies were discovered in the back of a lorry on October 23, 2019 in Thurrock, England. The lorry was discovered early Wednesday morning in Waterglade Industrial Park on Eastern Avenue in the town of Grays. Authorities said they believed the lorry originated in Bulgaria and entered the country at Holyhead on October 19. The suspected driver was arrested in connection with the investigation. (Photo by Leon Neal/Getty Images) Leon Neal Getty 39 bodies found in lorry container in Essex Police activity at the Waterglade Industrial Park in Grays, Essex, after 39 bodies were found inside a lorry container on the industrial estate. PA Photo. Picture date: Wednesday October 23, 2019. Early indications suggest there 38 are adults and one teenager, police said. The lorry is from Bulgaria and entered the country at Holyhead, North Wales, one of the main port for ferries from Ireland. See PA story POLICE Container. Photo credit should read: Stefan Rousseau/PA Wire Stefan Rousseau PA 39 bodies found in lorry container in Essex THURROCK, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 23: A Police forensic investigation team are parked near the site where 39 bodies were discovered in the back of a lorry on October 23, 2019 in Thurrock, England. The lorry was discovered early Wednesday morning in Waterglade Industrial Park on Eastern Avenue in the town of Grays. Authorities said they believed the lorry originated in Bulgaria and entered the country at Holyhead on October 19. The suspected driver was arrested in connection with the investigation. (Photo by Leon Neal/Getty Images) Leon Neal Getty 39 bodies found in lorry container in Essex Thurrock deaths: 39 bodies found in lorry container in Essex Reuter TV Reuter TV 39 bodies found in lorry container in Essex Police activity at the Waterglade Industrial Park in Grays, Essex, after 39 bodies were found inside a lorry container on the industrial estate. PA Photo. Picture date: Wednesday October 23, 2019. Early indications suggest there 38 are adults and one teenager, police said. The lorry is from Bulgaria and entered the country at Holyhead, North Wales, one of the main port for ferries from Ireland. See PA story POLICE Container. Photo credit should read: Aaron Chown/PA Wire Aaron Chown PA 39 bodies found in lorry container in Essex Police cordon at the road leading to the Waterglade Industrial Park in Grays, Essex, after 39 bodies were found inside a lorry container on the industrial estate. PA Photo. Picture date: Wednesday October 23, 2019. Early indications suggest there 38 are adults and one teenager, police said. The lorry is from Bulgaria and entered the country at Holyhead, North Wales, one of the main port for ferries from Ireland. See PA story POLICE Container. Photo credit should read: Stefan Rousseau/PA Wire Stefan Rousseau PA 39 bodies found in lorry container in Essex Police officers are seen at the scene where bodies were discovered in a lorry container, in Grays, Essex, Britain October 23, 2019. REUTERS/Hannah McKay HANNAH MCKAY Reuters 39 bodies found in lorry container in Essex Police officers are seen at the scene where bodies were discovered in a lorry container, in Grays, Essex, Britain October 23, 2019. REUTERS/Hannah McKay HANNAH MCKAY Reuters

Twenty-five-year-old Robinson, from Craigavon in Northern Ireland, did not enter a plea and is due to appear at the Old Bailey on 25 November. He was remanded in custody.

During the brief hearing, prosecutor Ogheneruona Iguyovwe described the conspiracy charges as “a global ring” involving “the movement of a large number of illegal immigrants into the UK”.

Three other people have been arrested in connection with the probe.

The Vietnamese ambassador to the UK, Tran Ngoc An, spoke to home secretary Priti Patel on Friday night before meeting investigators from the National Crime Agency and Essex Police. He later visited the civic centre in Grays to pay tribute to the victims.

Boris Johnson has also visited Thurrock Council Offices in Essex to sign a book of condolence.