WIREDGOV

Two men convicted over their involvement in a major people smuggling ring have been extradited to Belgium following a joint investigation by the National Crime Agency and Belgian police.

The men – both Afghan nationals – were apprehended by specialist NCA extradition officers in south London and Hertfordshire after warrants were issued for their arrest by Belgian courts.

They were 21-year-old Zeeshan Banghis (AKA Bangash Zeeshan) who was arrested at an address on New Kent Road on 18 December 2024 and Saifur Rahman Ahmedzai (AKA Raees Hamza), 24, who was apprehended at an address in Hemel Hempstead a few days later on 30 December.

Belgian prosecutors say the men’s gang were involved in organising the transport of migrants from Afghanistan through Iran, Turkey and the Balkans into western Europe, mainly France and Belgium.

Many would eventually be put on small boats from northern France to the UK, with the gang suspected of transporting thousands of people this way.

The group also committed serious sexual offences against male migrant minors, including rape which they would video and use footage to blackmail the victims into criminality and further sexual abuse.

NCA investigators supported the Belgian investigation for around two years, supplying intelligence and evidence to the Belgian Federal Police around suspected members of the network.

In November 2024 a court in Antwerp convicted and sentenced the pair and 21 other members of the gang to a total of 170 years imprisonment, with sentences ranging from two to 18 years.

Eleven members were tried in their absence, including the two men arrested in the UK.

Ahmedzai was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment, while Banghis was sentenced to three years in jail. Both were also fined 3,000 Euros.

Ahmedzai was extradited to Belgium in June last year, with the same happening to Banghis on 15 January. They will serve the remainder of their sentences in a Belgian jail.

Officers also worked with colleagues from Border Force and Immigration Enforcement to identify migrants and victims of the network who had been transported to the UK, conducting safeguarding checks.

Andy Kelly, head of the NCA’s National Extradition Unit, said:

"This gang operated across the globe and piled misery on migrants they transported, all for the sake of making a profit.

“Many of these people would have been extremely vulnerable, which makes it all the more shocking that disgraceful sexual offences were committed against some of them.

“Our joint investigation with Belgian law enforcement is another example of international action succeeding against a global threat.

“These extraditions display a very strong message that work to disrupt and dismantle the gangs behind this horrendous trade will never slow down.”