Couple held in East End in UK Border Agency swoop on ‘sham’ marriages
A couple have been arrested in East London as part of a wide investigation into the organisation of ‘sham’ marriages.
Police and immigration officers were involved in an early morning raid at 7.30am today at an address in Willis Street, Poplar.
A 25-year-old Bangladeshi man and 46-year-old Portuguese woman were arrested on suspicion of facilitating non–EU nationals into the UK.
The investigation centred on a number of weddings due to take place at registry offices across London.
“We are cracking down on sham marriages,” said Det Ins Karl Amos from the London Immigration Crime Team.
“We suspect the sole purpose of these marriages is to avoid immigration controls and stay in the UK.
“Our aim is to identify the organisers who profit from and fuel the demand for these weddings.”
Most Read
- 1 Cyclist in hospital after lorry collision in Whitechapel
- 2 Section 60 in place across Tower Hamlets after Stepney stabbing
- 3 Mile End: Car crashes into bus stop during police pursuit
- 4 'Lucky' escape: Family flees Bethnal Green fire thanks to fire alarms
- 5 'A horrific attack': Man suffers critical head injuries from Shoreditch fight
- 6 Warnings issued after four fox clubs found stuck in old car wheels
- 7 'Staffing crisis' means children's hospice cannot offer end of life care
- 8 Whitechapel nun pens book of 12 stories to inspire selflessness in society
- 9 Aspire 'will work for everyone in Tower Hamlets' after winning majority
- 10 Flats under construction in Hackney Wick to be knocked down and rebuilt
New, tougher government rules on non-EU immigration make it a criminal offence to be in Britain through deception or to facilitate illegal entry.
A sham marriage is defined as a non-European marrying someone from Britain or the Continent as a means of gaining residency and the right to work and claim benefits.
