A fugitive smuggler linked to a child abuse gang has been arrested in South London, facing extradition to Belgium for serious crimes.
South London: Three Afghan men involved in a horrific people smuggling operation have been arrested. They were part of a gang that abused and blackmailed young boys. The arrests were made by the Metropolitan Police and the National Crime Agency (NCA) based on warrants from Belgium.
One of the men, Ziarmal Khan, was caught at Stansted Airport due to separate domestic violence charges. Another, Zeeshan Banghis, was nabbed in Southwark, while Saifur Rahman Ahmedzai was arrested in Hemel Hempstead. They all face extradition back to Belgium.
Belgian prosecutors say this gang was notorious for smuggling migrants from Afghanistan through various countries into Europe, and eventually into the UK. They even filmed their heinous acts against minors to blackmail them into further criminal activities.
A Belgian court recently sentenced these men and others in their gang to a staggering 170 years in prison. Ahmedzai got 10 years, while Khan and Banghis received three years each. Eleven members were tried in absentia.
The NCA’s Deputy Director, Craig Turner, emphasized that they will relentlessly pursue these gangs, no matter where they operate. He highlighted the dangers these smugglers put vulnerable people in while profiting from their suffering.
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper expressed her disgust at the case, calling it sickening. She praised the efforts of the NCA and other agencies for their dedication to bringing these criminals to justice and protecting vulnerable migrants.
