10 sham marriages 'being probed'

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Police are investigating 10 sham marriages in the Londonderry area, the High Court has been told.

They involve women who have been paid to allow illegal immigrants into the country, the court heard.

A lawyer was objecting to a bail application by Akeem Shittu, one of two Nigerians charged with assisting the illegal entry of a man in 2002.

Bail was refused in the case of 29-year-old Mr Shittu, of Lohunda Crescent, Blanchardstown in Dublin.

When he first applied for bail last June, the court was told that police had confirmed five sham marriages in which vulnerable women, some with children, were paid up to £2,500 to take part.

Crown lawyer Charles McKay said the number of sham marriages had now doubled and police were also investigating two similar attempted marriages.

Thousands of pounds were paid to women by an international gang engaged in people trafficking, mainly from China to the United Kingdom, said the lawyer.

"This is a very lucrative trade involving the movement of illegal immigrants and Shittu is believed by police to be part of the international criminal network," alleged Mr McKay.