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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Sham marriage raids: Ten people arrested | Sham marriage raids: Ten people arrested |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Ten people have been arrested as part of a nationwide operation to target sham marriages. | Ten people have been arrested as part of a nationwide operation to target sham marriages. |
| About 40 officers from the Home Office immigration team carried out early-morning raids in Leicester, Loughborough, London and Peterborough. | About 40 officers from the Home Office immigration team carried out early-morning raids in Leicester, Loughborough, London and Peterborough. |
| About 20 weddings involving African nationals seeking British residency rights are being investigated. | About 20 weddings involving African nationals seeking British residency rights are being investigated. |
| Immigration officers had been tipped off by staff at the Leicester Register Office following a suspicious wedding. | Immigration officers had been tipped off by staff at the Leicester Register Office following a suspicious wedding. |
| The raids in Leicester took place at addresses in Belgrave, Highfields and Weston Park. | The raids in Leicester took place at addresses in Belgrave, Highfields and Weston Park. |
| Other raids were at one address in Loughborough and Peterborough and two in London. | Other raids were at one address in Loughborough and Peterborough and two in London. |
| 'Not victimless crime' | |
| The 10 people arrested - both men and women - are Portuguese, Nigerian and Irish nationals. They were held on suspicion of conspiracy to breach immigration laws. | The 10 people arrested - both men and women - are Portuguese, Nigerian and Irish nationals. They were held on suspicion of conspiracy to breach immigration laws. |
| They are suspected of involvement in an organised crime group believed to have been arranging fake marriages between Portuguese and African nationals. | They are suspected of involvement in an organised crime group believed to have been arranging fake marriages between Portuguese and African nationals. |
| Immigration inspector Andy Radcliffe said officers had been collecting evidence for about two years. | Immigration inspector Andy Radcliffe said officers had been collecting evidence for about two years. |
| He said: "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. | He said: "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 not a victimless crime but it is organised criminality and people are making a lot of money out of it." | |
| Mr Radcliffe said the costs of each marriage varied but people often paid between £5,000 and £10,000 for the wedding and arrangement of an application to remain in the UK. | Mr Radcliffe said the costs of each marriage varied but people often paid between £5,000 and £10,000 for the wedding and arrangement of an application to remain in the UK. |