Two men convicted of horrific sexual offences against vulnerable minor migrants have been extradited from the United Kingdom to Belgium, where they will serve lengthy prison sentences.
Gang's Brutal Crimes and International Operation
Zeeshan Banghis, 21, and Saifur Rahman Ahmedzai, 24, were key figures in a vast international people smuggling syndicate. The network organised the transport of migrants, primarily from Afghanistan, through Iran, Turkey, and the Balkans into Western Europe. A significant number were then moved from northern France to the UK via small boat crossings, with the gang suspected of facilitating thousands of such journeys.
The group's crimes extended far beyond smuggling. They systematically targeted young, male migrant minors, subjecting them to rape and serious sexual abuse. The offenders filmed these assaults and used the footage to blackmail their victims, forcing them into criminal activity and further sexual exploitation.
Trials, Sentences and UK Arrests
In November 2024, a court in Antwerp, Belgium, convicted 23 members of the gang, sentencing them to a combined total of 170 years in prison. Individual sentences ranged from two to 18 years. Eleven members, including Banghis and Ahmedzai, were tried in absentia.
Ahmedzai received a 10-year sentence, while Banghis was sentenced to three years. Both were also ordered to pay fines of €3,000. Following the Belgian convictions, the UK's National Crime Agency (NCA) located and arrested the pair. Banghis was detained at an address on New Kent Road in Southwark, London, in December 2024. Ahmedzai was arrested days later in Hemel Hempstead.
International Cooperation Secures Extradition
Ahmedzai was extradited to Belgium in June 2025, with Banghis following on Thursday, 15 January 2026. They will now serve the remainder of their sentences in Belgian prisons.
Andy Kelly, Head of the NCA’s National Extradition Unit, stated: "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."
He emphasised that the joint investigation with Belgian authorities demonstrates how international action can tackle global threats, adding: "These extraditions display a very strong message that work to disrupt and dismantle the gangs behind this horrendous trade will never slow down."
