UK BORDER police raided homes across Bolton as they targeted an international sham marriage ring.

Five Czech nationals were arrested yesterday when UK border police targeted three houses in the town.

Acting on a tip-off, officers raided the homes at 7am yesterday, to crack down on an organised Crime ring. They arrested three men, aged 43, 36 and 31, and two women, aged 25 and 22.

Officers also visited an address in Liverpool, where a further woman was arrested in a joint operation by Greater Manchester Police and the UK Border Agency’s North West Immigration Crime Team.

All six were arrested on suspicion of assisting unlawful immigration and bigamy and were being questioned last night.

The operation was shrouded in secrecy and officials for the UK Border Agency were reluctant to divulge any details about the extent to which they believed the organised gang was operating in the town.

They also refused to say which areas of Bolton they had targeted in case it disrupted their ongoing investigation.

But it is believed the gang has been recruiting EU nationals, who have a legal right to stay in the UK, to marry non-EU citizens.

Jo Liddy, Regional Director of the UK Border Agency in the North West, said: “We will prosecute where appropriate, and will seek to remove foreign national offenders convicted of involvement in marriage scams after they have served their sentences.”

She added: “Those trying to play the system may face imprisonment for up to seven years.”

Over recent years the agency has clamped down on sham marriages with suspected fake marriages falling from more than 3,500 in 2004 to under 400 in 2008.

Identity cards for foreign nationals are being introduced which the agency hopes will further prevent immigration abuse.

It is believed gangs organising sham marriages for immigrants can make up to £15,000 per wedding.

pkeaveny@the boltonnews.co.uk