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Raids target passport factories Raids target passport factories
(1 day later)
Police have arrested 22 people in an operation to crack down on illegal passport factories. Police have arrested 22 people in an operation to crack down on illegal passport factories in London.
More 100 officers were involved in the dawn raids on Wednesday, in which 13 addresses across London were searched. More than 100 officers were involved in the dawn raids on Wednesday, in which 13 addresses were searched.
Police said during the operation, codenamed Greenhill, £40,000 in cash was seized as well as fake passports, driving licenses and identity papers. Police said during the operation, codenamed Greenhill, £40,000 in cash was seized as well as fake passports, driving licences and identity papers.
The raids were led by the Metropolitan Police's Operation Maxim team, which tackles immigration crime.The raids were led by the Metropolitan Police's Operation Maxim team, which tackles immigration crime.
Of those held, 19 have been arrested on suspicion of a range of crimes including unlawful facilitation, identity card offences and possession and conspiracy to produce and distribute false documents.Of those held, 19 have been arrested on suspicion of a range of crimes including unlawful facilitation, identity card offences and possession and conspiracy to produce and distribute false documents.
Three people have been dealt with for immigration offences.Three people have been dealt with for immigration offences.
True identitiesTrue identities
Det Ch Insp John Kielty from Operation Maxim, said: "The production of false passports enables others to commit a range of serious crime.Det Ch Insp John Kielty from Operation Maxim, said: "The production of false passports enables others to commit a range of serious crime.
"This operation tackles the criminals who try to hide their true identities from enforcement authorities.""This operation tackles the criminals who try to hide their true identities from enforcement authorities."
The Metropolitan Police worked with the UK Immigration Service, the Identity and Passport Service, South Yorkshire Police and the Department of Work and Pensions in the latest operation.The Metropolitan Police worked with the UK Immigration Service, the Identity and Passport Service, South Yorkshire Police and the Department of Work and Pensions in the latest operation.
The addresses searched were in Walthamstow, Rotherhithe, Ilford, Upper Holloway, South Lambeth, Hackney, Brixton, Kilburn, Stoke Newington, Tottenham, Bermondsey and Greenford.The addresses searched were in Walthamstow, Rotherhithe, Ilford, Upper Holloway, South Lambeth, Hackney, Brixton, Kilburn, Stoke Newington, Tottenham, Bermondsey and Greenford.
Immigration Minister Liam Byrne said: "The operation shows our shared determination to attack the organised crime that accounts for as much as three quarters of illegal immigration to Britain."Immigration Minister Liam Byrne said: "The operation shows our shared determination to attack the organised crime that accounts for as much as three quarters of illegal immigration to Britain."