Man from Hemel Hempstead extradited to Belgium for involvement in people smuggling ring
A man from Hemel Hempstead has been extradited to Belgium for his involvement in a people smuggling ring, which led to thousands of migrants being transported from France into the UK on small boats.
Saifur Rahman Ahmedzai, 24, of Nash Green in Hemel Hempstead was arrested on December 30 2024 and convicted by a court in Belgium for his involvement with a gang who organised the transport of migrants from Afghanistan through Iran, Turkey and the Balkans, and into western Europe, mainly France and Belgium.
The gang are suspected of transporting thousands of people on small boats from northern France into the UK.
The group committed serious sexual offences against male migrant minors, including rape which they would film, before using footage to blackmail the victims into criminality and further sexual abuse.
Ahmedzai was jailed for ten years for his part in the gang’s activities, and fined €3,000.
Ahmedzai was extradited to Belgium in June 2025 while fellow gang member Zeeshan Banghis, 21, of New Kent Road in London, who was sentenced to three years behind bars, was extradited on January 15 2026.
Both men will serve the remainder of their sentences in a Belgian jail.
Twenty-one other members of the gang were convicted and sentenced for their involvement, and were issued jail terms of between two and 18 years.
The extradition case against a third man, Ziarmal Khan of Grove Lane in Uxbridge, was discontinued.
Head of the National Crime Agency’s National Extradition Unit Andy Kelly 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.”