Bangladeshi man extradited from Brazil pleads guilty in human smuggling case

Bangladeshi man extradited from Brazil pleads guilty in human smuggling case by Jessica Warner Mon, November 9, 2026 at 4:50 PM A Bangladeshi national accused of helping move migrants through multiple countries to illegally enter the United States has pleaded guilty after being extradited from Brazil, the U.S. Department of Justice said. (Getty Images) Comment on this story 0 Comment Share story Share SAN ANTONIO - A Bangladeshi national accused of helping move migrants through multiple countries to illegally enter the United States has pleaded guilty after being extradited from Brazil, the U.S. Department of Justice said. Saiful Islam, 39, pleaded guilty today to charges tied to what the Justice Department described as a wide-ranging conspiracy that smuggled numerous aliens through South America, Central America and Mexico to the United States. According to court documents, Islam participated in an alien smuggling organization and assisted other smugglers by facilitating the travel of aliens from and through Brazil, South America, Central America and Mexico so the aliens could illegally enter the United States. The Justice Department said some aliens were transported along the Colombian coast in dangerous boats by intoxicated pilots, some trekked through the Darien Gap, and some were given other individuals’ documentation to conceal their identities. The Justice Department said the aliens were brought to the Southern border and instructed to cross into the United States by wading across the Rio Grande River or by jumping a border fence. Some aliens paid Islam thousands of dollars to be smuggled into the United States, according to the release. Islam was extradited from Brazil to the United States in April 2026. Islam pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to bring an alien to the United States and two counts of bringing an alien to the United States, all for the purpose of commercial advantage and private financial gain. The Justice Department said Islam agreed to forfeit money he collected from smuggled aliens. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Feb. 17, 2027, and faces a mandatory minimum of three years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors, the Justice Department said. Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and U.S. Attorney Aaron Reitz for the Southern District of Texas made the announcement. Homeland Security Investigations Phoenix investigated the case with assistance from Homeland Security Investigations offices in Laredo, Brasilia and Bogota, the HSI Human Smuggling Unit in Washington, D.C., U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s Counter Network Division, the Brazil Department of Federal Police, the Colombia National Police, the U.S. Marshals Service and INTERPOL, according to the release. Trial Attorney Spencer M. Perry of the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Leslie Cortez for the Southern District of Texas are prosecuting the case. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs provided assistance in securing Islam’s arrest and extradition from Brazil, and the department thanked Brazilian law enforcement counterparts for making the extradition possible. The Justice Department said the case was supported and prosecuted by JTFA, its lead effort in combating human smuggling and trafficking committed by cartels and transnational criminal organizations throughout the Americas. The department said JTFA’s work has resulted in more than 486 domestic and international arrests, more than 447 U.S. convictions, and more than 374 significant jail sentences imposed and forfeitures of substantial assets. Trending Family of five killed after SUV leaves wet IH-10 overpass in Seguin, parents identified Rain-slicked IH-10 in Seguin turned deadly when a Chevrolet Tahoe left an overpass near FM 725, killing a Porter family of five, including three children. FM 725 was shut for hours as police investigate. 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