Smuggler Extradited From Egypt in Russia-to-Arizona Pipeline

PHOENIX, Ariz. — A 36-year-old dual Kazakhstani-Tajikistani citizen was extradited from Egypt and made his first court appearance in Phoenix on November 10, 2026, on charges tied to an alleged international human smuggling conspiracy, the U.S. Department of Justice announced.

Read the Department of Justice release: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/dual-kazakhstani-tajikistani-citizen-extradited-egypt-role-alien-smuggling-conspiracy

Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department's Criminal Division announced the case, according to the release.

The defendant is Abdulhafiz Bahovatdiny, 36, a dual citizen of Kazakhstan and Tajikistan, according to the release.

He appeared in court in Phoenix, Arizona, on November 10, 2026, after his extradition from Egypt, according to the release.

December Indictment, Ten Counts, Financial Gain Charges

A federal grand jury in the District of Arizona returned the indictment in December 2025, and it was unsealed on November 10, 2026, according to the release.

Abdulhafiz Bahovatdiny: Charged with one count of conspiracy to bring aliens to the United States, and nine counts of bringing in aliens for private financial gain.

The charges are allegations only. Bahovatdiny is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law, according to the release.

Russia and Central Asia, Flights to Mexico, Mexicali Crossings

According to court documents cited in the release, the alleged conduct ran from in or around January 2022 to in or around February 2025.

Prosecutors allege Bahovatdiny was part of an alien smuggling organization that moved nationals of Russia, Tajikistan and other Central Asian countries into the United States illegally across the U.S.-Mexico border, according to the release.

The organization arranged flights from the travelers' home countries directly to Mexico, or to a country in South America, according to the release.

At times, the organization also arranged lodging, directing travelers to specific hotels as they moved toward the border, and shipped their belongings into the United States ahead of their crossings, according to the release.

Once the travelers reached South America or Mexico, Bahovatdiny and others accompanied, arranged and directed them to Mexicali, Mexico, where a member of the organization met them, according to the release.

From Mexicali, a member of the organization drove them to the U.S.-Mexico border and told them where to cross illegally into Arizona, according to the release.

Assistant Attorney General Duva said the travelers were not vetted by anyone and added, "We will reach across the world to hold human smugglers accountable."

HSI Arizona Special Agent in Charge Jason T. Stevens said smuggling organizations exploit international travel networks for profit, and CBP National Targeting Center Executive Director Stephen T. Maloney said the case reflected work with domestic and foreign law enforcement partners, according to the release.

Red Notice Arrest, HSI Investigation, Phoenix Prosecution

Bahovatdiny was arrested earlier this year in Egypt as the result of an INTERPOL Red Notice, according to the release.

HSI Yuma and the U.S. Border Patrol are investigating the case, with substantial assistance from HSI's Human Smuggling Unit in Washington and CBP's National Targeting Center International Interdiction Task Force, according to the release.

The Justice Department's Office of International Affairs, INTERPOL and Egyptian authorities provided substantial assistance in securing the arrest and extradition, according to the release.

Trial Attorney Benjamin Smith of the Criminal Division's Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Christina Vejar for the District of Arizona are prosecuting the case, according to the release.

If convicted, Bahovatdiny faces a mandatory minimum penalty of five years in prison and a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison, according to the release.

The case was supported by Joint Task Force Alpha, the Justice Department's lead effort against high-impact human smuggling and trafficking networks, which the release said has produced more than 486 domestic and international arrests and more than 447 U.S. convictions to date.

Anyone with information about human smuggling can contact Homeland Security Investigations or submit a tip through the HSI tip line.

Sources

U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Public Affairs, Official Press Release No. 26-1350, "Dual Kazakhstani-Tajikistani Citizen Extradited from Egypt for Role in Alien Smuggling Conspiracy," November 10, 2026.