SEVEN members of an international sham marriage ring are each facing up to seven years in jail after they admitted being part of a plot to assist illegal immigration.

The Bolton-based gang, which was led by five Czech nationals, conspired to carry out various sham marriages to help mainly Nigerian, Pakistani and Syrians gain entry.

The scheme saw some members of the gang get married up to three times, using places like Bolton Register Office.

The gang even took wedding pictures of the ceremonies and presented them to the Home Office as proof of their loving relationships. Following a high profile covert operation led by detectives from the UK Border Agency (UKBA), seven people yesterday pleaded guilty to conspiracy to assist unlawful immigration into the UK.

They were: Roman Murko, aged 31, and Nela Ginova, aged 22, both of Church Avenue, Daubhill; Vladimir Murko, aged 38, and Aneta Belova, aged 25, both of Stansfield Close, Tonge Fold, Slovakian national Monika Lakatosova, aged 25, of Charlesworth Avenue, Great Lever, Pavel More, aged 42, of Southfield Street, Burnden; and Petra Cinova, aged 26, of Galloway Street, Liverpool.

Ginova, Belova, Cinova and Vladimir Murko are also facing charges of bigamy. The gang appeared at Manchester Crown Court yesterday and the case was adjourned until July 8 to fix a date for sentence.

Detective Sergeant Jeff Taylor, from the UKBA’s Immigration Crime Team, said the gang’s operation was nationwide with marriages carried out in Bolton, Liverpool, Manchester and London.

But the gang member’s home addresses were centered mainly in Bolton, with “satellite”

addresses in Longsight and Liverpool.

He said: “The UKBA identified blatant abuse of immigration laws by this group since 2006 and subsequently linked in with the North West Immigration Crime Team as part of a joint approach under Operation Passat.”

Police carried out three raids in Bolton in May during which they arrested Lakatosova at a house in Charlesworth Avenue, Great Lever.

A 29-year-old Pakistani national was also arrested in Curzon Road, Bolton, and is currently in custody, charged with obtaining leave by deception and ID card offences.

The five Czech nationals were arrested in raids in Bolton in February.

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

Adrian Dugdale, reviewing lawyer from the Complex Casework Unit at Greater Manchester Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said: “Today’s conviction of these seven individuals sends out the right message to would-be criminals who take advantage of people’s desperation to illegally remain within the UK.

“By taking these organised criminals out of action, we have halted an abuse of the immigration rules and made it clear that the integrity of the UK’s borders will be defended.

“This successful prosecution has been an excellent example of first-rate partnership working between GMP, the CPS and the UK Border Agency.”