Five charged following immigration crime raids

The group were charged following raids across Greater Manchester and London

Five men have been charged following a series of raids across Greater Manchester and London as part of a crackdown on organised immigration crime.

Four men aged between 19 and 47 from Greater Manchester and a 19-year-old man from London were charged following Tuesday operation.

Esmail Majelan, 42, of Stockport, Reza Enayati, 47, of Cheadle and Farooq Umar, 30, of Bolton, were each charged with conspiracy to assist illegal entry to the UK and conspiracy to launder money, Greater Manchester Police said.

Following raids in London, Arash Ghezelbash, 44, of Greenfield Gardens, was charged with the same offences.

A travel agent, money exchange business, a mini-mart and a takeaway were among the addresses targeted in the raids which saw 10 people arrested.

Usman Asim, 19, of Farnworth, Greater Manchester, was also charged with possessing false identity documents.

All five men are due to face Manchester Magistrates' Court later.