In a major breakthrough, three men involved in a dangerous people smuggling ring, which operated across multiple countries, have been arrested in the UK following a joint investigation between the National Crime Agency (NCA) and Belgian authorities.
The men, all Afghan nationals, were apprehended in south London, Hertfordshire, and Essex after warrants were issued by Belgian courts.
The men – Ziarmal Khan (24), Zeeshan Banghis (20), and Saifur Rahman Ahmedzai (23) – were part of a gang responsible for smuggling migrants from Afghanistan through Iran, Turkey, and the Balkans into Western Europe, primarily France and Belgium. Once in northern France, many of the migrants were transported across the English Channel to the UK on small boats, a dangerous journey that has claimed the lives of many over the years.
In addition to their smuggling operations, the gang was also implicated in heinous sexual crimes against male migrant minors. These offences included rape, and in a shocking act of exploitation, the gang filmed the abuse and used the footage to blackmail victims into further criminal acts and sexual abuse.
The men – all Afghan nationals – were apprehended by NCA and @metpoliceuk officers in south London, Hertfordshire and Essex after warrants were issued for their arrest by Belgian courts.
Prosecutors in Belgium say the trio’s gang were involved in organising the transport of…
— National Crime Agency (NCA) (@NCA_UK) December 30, 2024
The NCA’s involvement began when it provided vital intelligence and evidence to Belgian Federal Police as part of a two-year investigation into the network. Last month, a court in Antwerp convicted the men and 20 other members of the gang, sentencing them to a total of 170 years in prison. Eleven gang members were tried in their absence, including the three men arrested in the UK.
Khan, Banghis, and Ahmedzai now face extradition to Belgium to serve their sentences, which range from three to ten years in prison. Khan and Banghis each received sentences of three years, while Ahmedzai was sentenced to ten years. They were also fined 3,000 Euros each.
The NCA, along with Border Force and Immigration Enforcement, also worked to identify victims of the network who had been brought to the UK, conducting safeguarding checks to ensure their protection.
Last month, a court in Antwerp convicted and sentenced the trio and 20 other members of the gang to a total of 170 years imprisonment, with sentences ranging from two to 18 years.
They now face being returned to Belgium to serve their sentences and extradition proceedings have…
— National Crime Agency (NCA) (@NCA_UK) December 30, 2024
NCA Deputy Director Craig Turner said, “This operation shows that no matter where people smuggling gangs operate, we will find them and bring them to justice. These men were part of a network involved in illegally moving migrants across the globe, profiting from the dangerous situations they put vulnerable people into, and committing the most heinous sexual offences against them.”
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper condemned the smuggling ring, calling it “nothing short of sickening” and praised the work of law enforcement agencies in tackling the gangs. She added, “Through closer international collaboration, joint work between law enforcement agencies, new legislation, and the £150 million cash investment in the Border Security Command, we are making clear we will stop at nothing to protect our borders from people-smuggling gangs.”
Does three years reflect the seriousness of those stated crimes? At least one got ten.
Only 3 years for human trafficking, smuggling, rape, and blackmail? Ffs
Let’s hope Belgian prisoners don’t get early release for good behaviour like UK, given that time on remand counts too!
Return to serve time in country of origin would save taxpayers money. Sadly that requires a treaty and acceptance of humane conditions. If you can’t do the time, don’t do the crime…
Send them back to Afghanistan and let the Taliban deal with them.
Will that happen? The soft Liberials will never allow it…….. Follow Poland as a real example of a state that protects its people and way of life.
Are human trafficking, smuggling, rape, and blackmail offences in Sharia Law, assuming that applies to taliban run Afghanistan?
Big headline, but, given their ages, these were minnows.
At work, I suggested we slot their Head Shed, didn’t go down well but I countered that the IRA changed tactics when their people got slotted why not try the same approach with this scum. Got a nod on that one.
Like Russians, only thing they understand is death.
Just three years
Tip of the ice burg.
There is no deterrent, so they will continue.
How many are actually deported out of the total who arrive? Question?
I suggest very few.
They know this.
Yes undoubtedly.
How did they get into the UK? Do they have status to be here? We’re they refugees? Where do they go when they have served their sentence……. back to the UK and become a burden on the taxpayer again? They should have any UK status removed now, protection or otherwise, and refused re-entry to the UK, otherwise they will do it again as it pays them to take the risk.
Law enforcement is not the answer to this it never will be. We threw the kitchen sink at the drugs trade for the whole of my adult working life and it had no effect at all because cretins still want to take drugs. Starmer knows this but as an experienced barrister he lies with ease. Only if we can take away the desire or need will this be stopped and it is high time Starmer and his cronies stopped lying and saying otherwise.