3 Afghans held in Britain for alleged human trafficking, sexual abuse

KABUL (Pajhwok): Three Afghans convicted in Belgium over their involvement in a major people smuggling ring following a joint investigation by the Belgian Crime Agency and police have been arrested in the UK, a media report said on Tuesday.

The men – all Afghan nationals – were apprehended by National Crime Agency and Metropolitan Police Service officers in south London, Hertfordshire and Essex after warrants were issued for their arrest by Belgian courts.

Ziarmal Khan (AKA Boxer Bhai), aged 24, was arrested on 6 December by MPS officers at Stansted Airport in relation to a domestic violence offence, and further arrested on behalf of the Belgians while in custody.

Specialist NCA extradition officers then arrested 20-year-old Zeeshan Banghis (AKA Bangash Zeeshan) at an address on New Kent Road on 18 December and Saifur Rahman Ahmedzai (AKA Raees Hamza), 23, at an address in Hemel Hempstead on Monday 30 December.

Prosecutors in Belgium say the trio’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.

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