Sham marriage racket exposed during raid

A sham marriage racket which was operating across the Black Country has been smashed by border agency officers, it has been revealed today.

Five people from Wolverhampton have admitted their roles in the scam and are now facing prison sentences for their involvement in the bogus ceremonies aimed at cheating immigration laws.

It follows the discovery of two couples who were in the process of getting married to each other when officers carried out a raid at the Wrexham Registry Office.

Indian national Manpreet Singh, 27, and Lithuanian Oskana Alexsandraviciute, also 27, both of Dudley Road, Blakenhall, were about to get married.

Fake couple Jasbir Singh and Sandra Beleckaite, both 21, of Dudding Road, Blakenhall, were also in the process of marrying.

Meanwhile, Antannas Beleckas, 26, of Osier Place, Wednesfield, was there to translate on behalf of the both the couples during the ceremonies on August 30.

It is understood that the visas of the two men set to marry had expired, therefore they were in the country illegally.

Border Agency bosses today warned that they were "cracking down" on sham marriages.

At Mold Crown Court in Wales yesterday, each of the defendants pleaded guilty to conspiracy to arrange the weddings of the two Mr Singhs to facilitate the commission of an immigration offence. They will be sentenced in the new year.

UK Border Agency spokesman Chris Herdman said today: "The charges relate to an operation carried out by the UKBA's Immigration Crime Team, supported by North Wales Police, at Wrexham Register Office on Tuesday 30 August.

"The UKBA is cracking down on sham marriages and anyone who seeks to cheat immigration laws."

Two years ago Nigerian Samson Adebayo was jailed for 12 months after marrying Amanda Williams, of Tippity Green, Rowley Regis, in 2005.

West Midlands Police and the UK Border Agency conducted a huge investigation into sham marriages in the region, arresting more than 60 people.