Six held in Leeds Chinese immigration raid

SIX people were today arrested after a raid on an advice centre in Leeds thought to be involved in a multi-million pound operation helping illegal Chinese immigrants enter Britain.
By Rob Parsons, Crime Correspondent
Published 9th Oct 2013, 15:59 BST
Officers carrying out today's raidOfficers carrying out today's raid
Officers carrying out today's raid

The arrests came after a morning raid by police and Home Office teams on the city centre offices of unlicensed immigration advisory service Law Direct Associates Ltd.

One hundred officers descended on Airedale House, in Albion Street, this morning and arrested a 40-year-old man and five women aged between 22 and 34.

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The Home Office says the raids are “part of an ongoing investigation into the use of suspected fraudulent visa applications to assist the illegal entry of Chinese nationals into the UK”.

In total 14 arrests were made after raids across the country, including ten in West Yorkshire, one in Birmingham, one in County Durham and two in London.

Other arrests in West Yorkshire include a 20-year-old woman at an address in Alwoodley, Leeds, a 41-year-old man and 42-year-old woman in West Park, Leeds, and a 37-year-old woman at an address in Yeadon.

They were all being questioned today at police stations in West Yorkshire on suspicion of offences including conspiracy to facilitate a breach of UK immigration law, bribery of a public official and money laundering.

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Adrian Watkins, from the Home Office Criminal and Financial Investigation (Immigration) team, said: “These arrests are part of an ongoing investigation into suspected breaches of UK immigration law through the visa application process.

“This investigation will continue with the evidence we have seized today.”