UK investigates 'complex' immigration fraud involving Indian nationals
The UK border control and the National Crime Agency (NCA) is conducting an ongoing investigation into the Khalsa Missionary Society at Cheetham Hill Road in Manchester and how it is involved in sponsoring Indians nationals to work at the society as Ministers of Religion, under Tiers 2 and 5 of the points-based system for migrant workers.
On January 21, border control and NCA officials visited 15 addresses in Slough, Southall, Southampton, Luton, Hounslow, Birmingham and Leicester. They arrested ten people for obtaining leave by deception, contrary to Section 24 of the 1971 Immigration Act.
It includes four women, aged 22, 26, 27 and 44 from Slough; a 46 year-old man and a 26 year-old woman in Southall; a 28 year-old woman in Hounslow; a 42 year-old man in Leicester; a 25 year-old woman in Luton; and a 30 year-old woman in Southampton.
They are now being questioned at police stations across the UK, and all the addresses visited are being searched, the UKBA has said.
These arrests bring the total number of people arrested in connection with the criminal investigation to 22.
“This is a complex operation linked to suspected immigration crime that targeted several locations across the UK,” said Nick Wood, from the Home Office criminal investigations team.
“Our investigation will continue with the evidence we have seized,” Wood warned.
Another nine Indian nationals were arrested, during this criminal raid, for other immigration offences such as overstaying their visas.
While steps are underway to remove these nine Indians from the UK, border control officers clarified that the nine arrests are unconnected to the criminal investigation.
Three separate cash seizures were also made by the officials and are now subject to investigation.
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