Seven men have been accused of being part of a grooming gang and charged with rape and child sexual abuse offences, police said.
The Afghan nationals were charged as part of an investigation into group-based child sexual exploitation in Norwich, Norfolk police said. They are accused of sexual offences committed between August 2023 and May 2025.
Police said five of the men had entered the country via a small boat, one concealed in a lorry and the seventh attempted to enter the UK clandestinely via Portsmouth ferry port.
The men appeared before Norwich magistrates court on Friday. All seven defendants were remanded into custody until a plea hearing at Norwich crown court on 19 June.
Supt Craig Miller said: “I know this news will be shocking to our communities. This type of case is very upsetting, and I want people living and working in Norwich, as well as the wider communities of Norfolk, to know that we will do everything possible to protect children from abuse and exploitation.”
The Crown Prosecution Service said the defendants were charged as follows:
Jamil Khalil, 20, of High Street, Dumbarton, Scotland, is charged with seven counts of rape, one count of human trafficking and one count of conspiracy to commit child sexual abuse.
Ahmadin Ahmadzai, 21, of Pottergate, Norwich, is charged with nine counts of rape, one count of human trafficking, two counts of conspiracy to commit child sexual abuse and one count of perverting the course of justice.
Qais Kaker, 20, of Black Horse Opening, Norwich, is charged with four counts of rape, one count of human trafficking, two counts of conspiracy to commit child sexual abuse and one count of perverting the course of justice.
Fazal Auryakhel, 20, of Eleanor Road, Norwich, is charged with one count of rape.
Mohammed Farooq Sinwary, 23, of St Benedicts Street, Norwich, is charged with two counts of rape.
Ali Ahamad, 21, of Barnards Yard, Norwich, is charged with one count of rape and three counts of human trafficking.
Sayed Wahid Daviodzai, 20, of St Benedicts Street, Norwich, is charged with four counts of rape and one count of conspiracy to commit child sexual abuse.
Norfolk police said officers raided seven addresses on Wednesday, six in Norwich and one in Dumbarton, Scotland, leading to seven arrests.
The Irish police force, Garda Síochána, arrested an eighth suspect in Ireland shortly after 7am on Friday 22 May. Appropriate legal processes will now be followed to seek the 19-year-old man’s return to the UK, Norfolk police said.
The charges relate to two alleged victims, who were aged in their early to mid-teens at the time of the alleged offences, the force said.
Norfolk police said none of the charged men have lived at asylum hotels in Norfolk and none of the alleged offending happened in asylum hotels.
The force said a “complex and sensitive investigation” began in September 2023 after a disclosure from a young girl.
Det Supt Stacey Murray, who is leading the investigation, said: “I want to reassure everyone that we are being meticulous in our approach to this investigation.”
Officers are encouraging anyone with information about the investigation to speak to them.
The minister for safeguarding and violence against women and girls, Natalie Fleet, said: “These are hideous cases and the fact that the suspects arrived through illegal routes only underlines their shocking nature.”
Jenny Hopkins, chief crown prosecutor for the CP S’s organised child sexual abuse unit, said: “The Crown Prosecution Service has decided to prosecute seven men with rape and child sexual abuse charges for alleged offending during August 2023 to May 2025 – following a Norfolk police constabulary investigation into organised grooming gang activity in the county.
“Our prosecutors have worked to establish that there is sufficient evidence to bring the case to court and that it is in the public interest to pursue criminal proceedings.”
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