Latest news with #immigrationcrime
BBC News
20 hours ago
- BBC News
Five charged following Manchester and London immigration crime raids
Five men have been charged following a series of raids across Greater Manchester and London as part of a crackdown on organised immigration crime. Four men aged between 19 and 47 from Greater Manchester and a 19-year-old man from London were charged following Tuesday operation. Esmail Majelan, 42, of Stockport, Reza Enayati, 47, of Cheadle and Farooq Umar, 30, of Bolton, were each charged with conspiracy to assist illegal entry to the UK and conspiracy to launder money, Greater Manchester Police said. Following raids in London, Arash Ghezelbash, 44, of Greenfield Gardens, was charged with the same offences. A travel agent, money exchange business, a mini-mart and a takeaway were among the addresses targeted in the raids which saw 10 people arrested. Usman Asim, 19, of Farnworth, Greater Manchester, was also charged with possessing false identity documents. All five men are due to face Manchester Magistrates' Court on Thursday. Listen to the best of BBC Radio Manchester on Sounds and follow BBC Manchester on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.
BBC News
3 days ago
- BBC News
Ten people arrested in Manchester immigration crime crackdown
Police have arrested ten people in dawn raids across Greater Manchester as part of a crackdown on organised immigration the addresses targeted were a travel agent, money exchange business, a mini-mart and a takeaway. All the people arrested were suspected of helping smuggle people into the UK by falsifying travel documents and putting travel plans in place for them, police said. Greater Manchester Police Det Ch Sup John Griffith, who led the operation, said the force was "dedicated to making a hostile environment for those criminal facilitators of organised immigration crime". He added: "These criminals are exploiting the world's most vulnerable individuals, putting them at risk of exploitation once they arrive in the UK, charging large sums of money for their illegal services, and undermining our immigration system."Officers arrested eight men and two women, aged between 19 and 52. All the arrests were said to be force alleged the suspects had been utilising their businesses and services to plan and assist the criminal Majesty's Revenue and Customs, the Home Office's Immigration Criminal and Financial Investigations teams, and Trading Standards were all involved in the raids. Listen to the best of BBC Radio Manchester on Sounds and follow BBC Manchester on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.
