Three men involved in a people-smuggling network who sexually abused migrants have been jailed for a total of 170 years.
The men – all Afghan nationals – were apprehended by the National Crime Agency (NCA) and Metropolitan Police officers in Hemel Hempstead, South London and Essex after warrants were issued for their arrest by Belgian courts.
Ziarmal Khan (AKA Boxer Bhai), 24, was arrested at Stansted Airport on Friday, December 6.
Zeeshan Banghis (AKA Bangash Zeeshan), 20, was arrested by Specialist NCA officers on New Kent Road in London on Wednesday, December 18.
Saifur Rahman Ahmedzai (AKA Raees Hamza), 23, was arrested by NCA officers at an address in Hemel Hempstead on Monday, December 30.
Prosecutors in Belgium say the gang were involved in organising the transport of migrants from Afghanistan into Western Europe.
It is believed they transported thousands of individuals this way and committed serious sexual offences against male migrant minors, including rape which they would video. They then used the footage to blackmail the victims into criminality and further sexual abuse.
In November, a court in Antwerp convicted and sentenced the trio and 20 other members of the gang to a total of 170 years’ imprisonment. Eleven members were tried in their absence, including the three men arrested in the UK.
Ahmedzai was sentenced to 10 years in prison, while Khan and Banghis were each sentenced to three years. All three were also fined €3,000.
They now face being returned to Belgium to serve their sentences and extradition proceedings have commenced.
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper MP said: “This case is nothing short of sickening. These men ran extensive illegal smuggling operations and inflicted extreme cruelty on the migrants they smuggled.”
Photo credit: UK Parliament
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