A BRIDE and groom were being questioned tonight (Wednesday) after being arrested at the altar in Tilbury on suspicion of staging a sham marriage.
The couple, plus three others, were handcuffed at the start of a noon ceremony at St John’s Church, Tilbury, said UK Border Agency officials.
Police said all five were being held on suspicion of breaching immigration laws.
A police spokesman told a reporter that the bride was a 28-year-old Dutch woman from Rotterdam. Sources said the four others were from Nigeria and in their 30s.
Investigators said the arrests were the culmination of an operation planned for weeks.
A UK Border Agency spokesman said officers emerged from a back room at the church and the vicar conducting the ceremony was aware of the investigation.
“Officers from a specialist immigration crime team stopped the wedding,” said the spokesman.
“The Nigerian groom and Dutch bride were put in handcuffs at the altar, while two witnesses – a Nigerian man and woman – were also arrested.”
Police said: “A 31-year-old woman from Tilbury, a 38-year-old man from Tilbury, a 32-year-old man from Tilbury, a 35-year-old man from London, plus the bride, were being questioned.”
A spokesman said all five were arrested on suspicion of immigration offences, and the 35-year-old man was also held on suspicion of trying to escape from police custody.
Lets hope that these poeple are deported on the next available flight/ship and do not get leave to stay, unfortunatley the strength of the UK immigration laws are so weak that I cannot see much being done about this.
The sooner the Government sort out our borders the better, they must ask themselves why people flock through other EU countrys to get here.
Agreed, the radio today advised the Border Agency are tackling organised crime in the Tilbury area. about 4 yers to late, they shouldn’t have allowed things to get established.
Now though get it sorted and get Thurrock back to what it used to be.