Visa fraud raid
Woman arrested in police operation
A HAYES woman has been arrested as part of a national visa fraud operation.
The 51-year old, whose name has not been made public, was arrested at an address in North Hyde Road along with nine other people across London, Manchester and Doncaster.
The arrests were made as part of an investigation into suspected abuse of the student visa route.
The suspected fraud operation used bogus colleges to allow the entry of non-EU nationals to the UK using the Tier 4 student visa route.
Officers from Immigration Enforcement UXBRIDGE: Jeweller Goldsmiths will close for a refit. The store, at The Chimes, also known as intu Uxbridge, will shut Criminal Investigations, supported by the National Crime Agency (NCA), carried out dawn raids at a number of addresses on Wednesday July 22.
Five men and two women, which included the woman from Hayes and also a 42-year-old man arrested at an address in Lowry Lodge in Harrow, were amongst those arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to facilitate a breach of immigration law and money laundering.
Officers also seized a significant amount of cash during the operation.
They are examining whether there has been abuse of the Confirmation of Acceptance to Study (CAS) process.
Bogus colleges linked to from August 2 to 20 to incorporate a TAG Heuer area and a fashion area.
Goldsmiths brand director Craig Bolton the investigation have all already had their sponsor licenses revoked following investigations by the Home Office.
Dave Magrath, from Home Office Immigration Enforcement Criminal Investigations, said: “We are determined to crack down on all forms of immigration crime.
“Our investigations will continue with the evidence we have seized.”
The seven arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to facilitate a breach of immigration law and money laundering have been detained and are waiting to be interviewed by investigators.
Anyone with information can contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or www. crimestoppers-uk.org said: “The investment in the refit reflects Goldsmiths’ commitment to the store team and the local community.”