Runaway sham marriage organiser captured

Olantuji George was among three men who were the driving force behind the money spinning racket that involved at least 45 fake relationships.

And he was one of 11 people jailed for a total of 52 and a half years for their roles in the racket following a trial at Wolverhampton Crown Court in 2016.

George was not in the dock to hear Judge Amjad Nawaz pass a 10 year prison sentence on him because he disappeared in the middle of the case prompting a warrant to be issued for his arrest on July 25 2016.

He reappeared in front of the judge on Wednesday after being traced to Ireland and brought back to the UK the previous day following the failure of his appeal against extradition. The case was adjourned to allow the barrister who represented him during the trial to be present.

It is thought he spent most, if not all, of his time on the run in Ireland since his passport had been seized by investigators. One said: "It was about as far away as he could get without one."

George was finally traced through intelligence checks and was detained by Garda officers with an EU arrest warrant at an address in Balbriggan, County Dublin on June 20 last year.

He was remanded in custody while his appeal against extradition back to the UK was heard but it was rejected and the extradition order was granted at Dublin High Court on February 28. He was returned by ferry under escort on Tuesday.

Dave Magrath, Deputy Director, Immigration Enforcement Criminal and Financial Investigation, said: "Olantuji George was at the heart of the sham marriage ring dismantled in 2016. Investigators uncovered a treasure trove of key evidence and paperwork at his address, which had become an administration centre for the gang demonstrating the extent of his involvement in their criminal business.

"After he was handed a long sentence in his absence in 2016, my officers were determined that he would not escape justice. Their persistence has paid off and he is now where he should be - behind bars beginning his jail time."

The racket involved West Africans in this country illegally paying up to £6,500-a-time for permission to stay on the bogus grounds of being married to, or in a long term relationship with, a person from the European Union living and working in this country.

A graphics expert created fake histories for the West Africans and people supposed to be their long term lovers who were mainly Czech or Slovakian and promised up to £1,800 each to take part in the plot which ran from January 2012 to March 2015.

False utility bills, rent books, pay slips and employment records backed the bogus claim of a legitimate marriage or lasting relationship. Some included pictures of the pair – who were strangers – side by side in bed, fully clothed or shopping together.

BMW-driving George, a 46-year-old law student who had completed a module on immigration law, claimed to be paid up to £1,000-a-time to prepare packages of the correct documents and fill in the necessary paperwork for the bogus resident’s card applications.

His home in Taylor Way, Tividale, held an ‘Aladdin’s Cave’ of information when raided by Immigration Enforcement investigators who, after a tip off, halted the marriage of a 26-year-old Nigerian and a Czech woman, who both lived in Wolverhampton. This provided a major break through in the investigation.