'Pizza' people smugglers jailed

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Three men have been jailed for running a people-smuggling operation that hid behind a network of pizza takeaways.

One organiser, Ahmed Hameed Sakhizada, of Northampton, had boasted of being Europe's biggest people trafficker and was jailed for nine years.

Two other gang members, including Sakhizada's brother, were also jailed.

They brought more than 100 immigrants to the UK, mainly from Afghanistan and Pakistan, and put them to work in pizza shops to pay debts of up to £10,000.

Ahmed Hameed Sakhizada, 33, was sentenced at Kingston Crown Court after admitting a charge of conspiracy to contravene the Immigration Act.

A charge of conspiracy to transfer criminal property was allowed to lie on file.

Abdul Wakil Niazi, 35, of Tunbridge Wells, Kent, was sentenced to 12 years after he was found guilty of conspiracy to contravene the Immigration Act and conspiracy to transfer criminal property.

[The men] took advantage of those who willingly left their homeland and families to seek a better life Janet Boston, Crown Prosecution Service

And Sakhizada's brother Ahmed Shah Sakhizada, 24, from Northampton, was sentenced to seven years after also being found guilty of both counts.

Two other men, both aged 18, were acquitted.

The trial heard the gang was known to be responsible for the illegal immigration of at least 230 young men into Europe, although prosecutors said the number was likely to be higher. Almost half of those were smuggled into the UK.

The gang operated via a network of pizza shops across England - including Northampton, Kent, Berkshire, Hampshire, Essex and Croydon in south London.

In January 2008 the Serious Organised Crime Agency (Soca) recorded Abdul Hameed Sakhizada - who lived above a pizza shop in Northampton - saying that in two months he had moved 1,800 people.

Abdul Wakil Niazi [L] and Ahmed Shah Sakhizada were also jailed

He boasted: "I am Europe's agent, I am the smuggler of Europe," the court was told.

An investigation by Soca and overseas authorities found the gang smuggled victims through Afghanistan into Iran and Turkey, then brought them to the Greek islands before moving them to other European countries, including the UK.

Abdul Hameed Sakhizada co-ordinated the crossing into Europe from Turkey to Greece - a service he also provided for other international gangs.

Agents based in each of the other transit countries would then manage the different stages of the journey.

'Vulnerable exploited'

Niazi was the main organiser of the UK trade, which involved the management and running of the pizza outlets, the court heard.

After the sentencing on Friday Soca director of enforcement Trevor Pearce said: "People smuggling is a serious crime which exploits vulnerable people for profit and causes harm to individuals, communities and the UK as a whole."

Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) lawyer Janet Boston said they would make applications under the Proceeds of Crime Act for money made by the organisation.

Serious Crime Prevention Orders would also be sought to restrict the defendants' activity in the future.

She added: "This was a profitable, sophisticated operation which was run in a highly organised, business-like manner by men who took advantage of those who willingly left their homeland and families to seek a better life."

She said the immigrants were left in huge debt to the men, which they paid off by working in the fast food outlets.

"Any money the organisers made was channelled back into the people smuggling organisation - enabling the whole circle to begin again."