Seven held in sham marriage raids in Wolverhampton, Manchester and Halifax
- Published
Seven people have been arrested in a crackdown on a suspected sham-marriage ring in Manchester, Halifax and Wolverhampton.
The Home Office said the arrests related to weddings which took place between February and August 2013.
The seven are suspected of arranging and taking part in sham marriages between Pakistani men and Czech women.
They are being held on suspicion of conspiracy to facilitate illegal immigration.
The weddings took place at register offices in Shrewsbury, Manchester, Bury and Halifax, the Home Office said.
The operation was supported by officers from the National Crime Agency and Greater Manchester Police.
Dave Magrath, from Home Office, said they were "cracking down on abuse of the marriage system and those who seek to cheat immigration law face prosecution and conviction".