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Two men from Caerphilly county have been charged with people smuggling.

Dilshad Shamo and Ali Khdir allegedly helped to move more than 500 illegal migrants through Europe from Iraq, Iran and Syria via boats, HGVs and cars.

They were charged as part of a National Crime Agency (NCA) investigation and it is believed many of those migrants ended up in the UK.

The pair were remanded in custody at Newport Magistrates Court.

Both Shamo, 41, from Castell Morgraig, and Khdir, 42, from Pontygwindy Road, Caerphilly, are alleged to have worked as part of a wider organised crime group in breach of EU immigration laws.

The men were initially arrested in April 2023 and charged after answering bail on Sunday.

They will next appear before Newport Crown Court on 18 March.

NCA branch commander Derek Evans said: "This investigation involves two UK residents suspected of organising the logistics of moving illegal migrants through Europe.

"The arrest and charge of these individuals is a major disruption to a suspected international organised crime group alleged to have moved hundreds, if not thousands, of migrants illegally across borders.

"The NCA is tackling organised immigration crime as a priority and we will continue our work with partners to disrupt the networks involved at every part of the route."