2 hours ago 12 minutes ago
Matt PreceyNorwich Magistrate's Court
Norfolk Police
Norfolk Police said officers raided 7 addresses connected Wednesday
Seven men person been charged with a full of 40 offences arsenic portion of an probe into group-based kid exploitation.
Norfolk Police said the men - six aged 20 and 1 aged 21 - were each Afghan nationals and were arrested connected Wednesday pursuing raids connected six addresses successful Norwich and 1 successful Dumbarton, Scotland.
The charges subordinate to 2 girls, aged successful their aboriginal to mid-teens astatine the clip of the alleged offences, said to person happened betwixt August 2023 and May 2025 successful Norwich.
All 7 men spoke lone to corroborate their names erstwhile they appeared earlier magistrates successful Norwich earlier.
Police said the men's migration presumption was "refugee".
Five of the defendants entered the state connected tiny boats, according to the police.
One came to the UK concealed connected a lorry and different arrived via a port.
Norfolk Police
Natalie Fleet, Minister for Safeguarding and Violence Against Women and Girls, said: "These are hideous cases and the information that the suspects arrived done amerciable routes lone underlines their shocking nature.
"My thoughts are with the victims and their families.
"Anyone convicted of these crimes indispensable look the afloat unit of the law, and this authorities is wide that vile overseas criminals person nary spot successful the UK."
Norfolk Police said an eighth man, aged 19, had been arrested successful Ireland connected Friday arsenic portion of the investigation.
The pursuing men were remanded successful custody and volition look astatine Norwich Crown Court connected June 19:
- Ahmadin Ahmadzai, 20, of Pottergate, Norwich, has been charged with 9 counts of rape, 2 counts of conspiracy to rape, 1 number of facilitating quality trafficking and 1 number of perverting the people of justice.
- Jamil Khalili, 20, of High Street, Dumbarton, faces 7 charges of rape, 1 number of conspiracy to rape and 1 number of facilitating quality trafficking.
- Fazal Auryakhel, 20, of Eleanor Road, Norwich, is accused of 1 number of rape.
- Qais Kaker, 20, of Black Horse Opening, Norwich, is charged with 4 counts of rape, 1 number of conspiracy to rape and 1 number of facilitating quality trafficking.
- Mohammed Farooq Shinwary, 20, of St Benedicts Street, Norwich, faces 2 counts of rape.
- Ali Ahamad, 21, of Pelham Road, Norwich, is charged with 1 number of rape and 3 counts of facilitating quality trafficking.
- Sayed Wahid Davodzai, 20, of St Benedicts Street, Norwich, is charged with 4 counts of rape and 1 number of conspiracy to rape.
Det Supt Stacey Murray, who is starring the probe for Norfolk Police, said: "I privation to reassure everyone that we are being meticulous successful our attack to this investigation."
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