the Wedding Planner

UK Wedding News

09/05/2013

Ten Arrested In Sham Marriage Raids

Ten people have been arrested in Leicester following a series of raids relating to sham marriages.

According to the BBC, the arrests are part of a nationwide operation to target sham marriages.

Around 40 officers from the Home Office immigration team were involved in early-morning raids in Leicester, Peterborough, Loughborough and London.

It is understood they are investigating around 20 weddings involving African nationals dishonestly seeking residency rights within the UK.

The officers received a tip off from staff at the Leicester Register Office following a suspicious wedding.

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A number of addresses were raided in Leicester, as well as one in Loughborough and Peterborough and two in London.

Both men and women were arrested and are being held on suspicion of conspiracy to breach immigration laws.

The accused are thought to be part of an organised crime group arranging fake marriages between Portuguese and African nationals.

Immigration inspector Andy Ratcliffe said officers had been collecting evidence on the group for around two years.

He added: "From the initial report we built up a picture of people who have been suspected of organising the sham marriages and the beneficiaries and it has culminated in the arrests of those believed to be involved.

"The Home Office is taking tough action on the organisers of sham marriages. It is a victimless crime but it is organised criminality and people are making a lot of money out of it."

(JP/CD)

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"Ten people have been arrested in Leicester following a series of raids relating to sham marriages."