A WOMAN in Hounslow and two people in Southall were among those arrested today during dawn raids targeting suspected immigration fraud by a religious charity.
A total of 19 people, including a 28-year-old woman in Hounslow and a 46-year-old man and 26-year-old woman, both in Southall, during the Home Office raids which took place across the country.
The Home Office said the operation, supported by National Crime Agency (NCA) officers, was part of an ongoing criminal investigation into the Khalsa Missionary Society, based in Cheetham Road, Manchester.
Ten people were arrested on suspicion of obtaining leave by deception and are being questioned at police stations across the UK. Three cash seizures were also made.
A further nine people were arrested for other immigration offences, including overstaying their visas. They are not connected to the criminal investigation and steps are being taken to deport them.
Nick Wood, of the Home Office's criminal investigations team, said: "This is a complex operation linked to suspected immigration crime that targeted several locations across the UK. Our investigation will continue with the evidence we have seized."
A total of 22 people have now been arrested in connection with the investigation into the religious charity, following earlier raids in September last year.
