Seven men have been charged with a total of 40 offences as part of an investigation into group-based child exploitation.

The men - six aged 20 and one aged 21 - were arrested on Wednesday following raids on six addresses in Norwich and one in Dumbarton, Scotland.

The charges relate to two victims, aged in their early to mid-teens at the time of the alleged offences, said to have happened between August 2023 and May 2025 in Norwich.

All seven men spoke only to confirm their names when they appeared before magistrates in Norwich earlier.

Norfolk Police said an eighth man, aged 19, had been arrested in Ireland on Friday as part of the investigation.

The following men were remanded in custody and will appear at Norwich Crown Court on June 19:

Ahmadin Ahmadzai, 20, of Pottergate, Norwich, has been charged with nine counts of rape, two counts of conspiracy to rape, one count of facilitate human trafficking and one count of perverting the course of justice.

Jamil Khalili, 20, of High Street, Dumbarton, faces seven charges of rape, one count of conspiracy to rape and one count of facilitate human trafficking.

Fazal Auryakhel, 20, of Eleanor Road, Norwich, is accused of one count of rape.

Qais Kaker, 20, of Black Horse Opening, Norwich, is charged with four counts of rape, one count of conspiracy to rape and one count of facilitate human trafficking.

Mohammed Farooq Shinwary, 20, of St Benedicts Street, Norwich, faces two counts of rape.

Ali Ahamad, 21, of Pelham Road, Norwich, is charged with one count of rape and three counts of facilitating human trafficking.

Sayed Wahid Davodzai, 20, of St Benedicts Street, Norwich, is charged with four counts of rape and one count of conspiracy to rape.

Police said the men were Afghan nationals and their immigration status was "refugee".

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Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c3e2wzpe7xjo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss