Three men convicted in Belgium over their involvement in a major people-smuggling ring that “inflicted extreme cruelty on the migrants they smuggled” have been arrested in the UK.
The men – all Afghan nationals – were arrested by officers from the National Crime Agency (NCA) and the Metropolitan police after a joint investigation by the NCA and Belgian police.
Police believe the gang was responsible for transporting thousands of people on small boats to the UK after smuggling them through Europe.
Members of the gang also committed serious sexual offences against male migrant minors, including rapes. Belgian prosecutors said the criminals would film the sexual assaults and use the footage to blackmail the victims into criminality and further sexual abuse.
The three men were detained in south London, Hertfordshire and Essex after warrants were issued for their arrest by Belgian courts.
Ziarmal Khan, also known as Boxer Bhai, 24, was arrested in Essex on 6 December. Specialist NCA extradition officers then arrested Zeeshan Banghis, also known as Bangash Zeeshan, 20, at a New Kent Road address on 18 December, and Saifur Rahman Ahmedzai, also known as Raees Hamza, 23, at an address in Hemel Hempstead on Monday.
According to Belgian prosecutors, the gang was involved in organising the transport of people from Afghanistan through Iran, Turkey and the Balkans into western Europe, mainly Belgium and France, from where many would be put on small boats to the UK.
Last month a court in Antwerp convicted 23 members of the gang, 11 of whom were tried in their absence. The NCA supported Belgian authorities to build evidence against the group, who were handed sentences ranging from two to 18 years in prison.
Ahmedzai was sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment, while Khan and Banghis were each sentenced to three years. All three were also fined €3,000 (£2,486). They now face being extradited to Belgium to serve their sentences.
“This operation shows that no matter where people-smuggling gangs operate, we will find them and bring them to justice,” the NCA’s deputy director, Craig Turner, said, adding that the agency “will not stop in our work to disrupt and dismantle the gangs that are behind these horrendous crimes”.
The home secretary, Yvette Cooper, said: “This case is nothing short of sickening. These men ran extensive illegal smuggling operations and inflicted extreme cruelty on the migrants they smuggled – some of them children – when they were at their most vulnerable.
“I am grateful to the NCA, Border Force and Immigration Enforcement officers, for their hard work and dedication in pursuing these vile criminal gangs, safeguarding victims of exploitation and protecting our borders.”
