Bangladeshi national extradited from Brazil to US over migrant smuggling

A Bangladeshi national has been extradited from Brazil to the United States over his alleged involvement with a transcontinental human smuggling, transporting migrants from Bangladesh to the US through South and Central America.

The 39 year old Saifullah Al Mamun made his initial appearance in Laredo, Texas after being extradited from Brazil on July 8, the US Department of Justice said on Tuesday.

He has been charged with conspiracy to bring a migrant to the United States, multiple counts of bringing a migrant to the United States for financial gain, and conspiracy to encourage and induce an alien to enter the United States.

If convicted of bringing a migrant to the US for financial gain, Mamun faces a minimum penalty of five years in prison. 

If convicted of conspiracy to bring and/or conspiracy to encourage and induce a migrant to enter the US, he faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison.

According to court documents, Mamun facilitated the travel of scores of migrants from São Paulo, Brazil, and other locations in South America, Central America, and Mexico so that the migrants could illegally enter the US. 

He allegedly housed migrants in São Paulo, and took as much as tens of thousands US dollars to help them cross the Rio Grande river and travel illegally to the US.

Mamun was arrested in Brazil on 31 Oct, 2019.