Home Office immigration enforcement officers have arrested three people in London following a probe into a criminal network allegedly facilitating fraudulent asylum claims. Investigators believe the group helped migrants—primarily Bangladeshi men—falsely claim they were gay to avoid deportation by arguing they would face persecution if returned to their home country. Watch: sees police raid on fake gay asylum claims gang.
During the morning raids, officers apprehended two individuals on suspicion of immigration and fraud-related offences, while a third was arrested for illegal residency. The operation also resulted in the seizure of cash, mobile devices, and jewelry. Chris Foster, a regional lead for Home Office criminal investigations, stated that intelligence suggested the network charged between £1,000 and £4,500 to provide forged documents, letters of support, and staged photographs designed to mimic same-sex relationships.
The investigation centers on a Whitechapel-based community group, Apanjon, which authorities claim was used to substantiate these claims. Home Office caseworkers flagged the suspicious patterns several months ago, leading to an ongoing review of more than 100 asylum cases linked to the network. Foster noted that some of the fraudulent applications have likely been granted in the past.
Judicial scrutiny of the organization is not new; immigration judges have previously dismissed evidence provided by Apanjon, citing lack of credibility and instances where applicants submitted doctored photos to prove their sexuality. In several instances, the group allegedly vouched for men who only raised their sexuality as a basis for asylum after their initial claims—often based on political grounds—had been rejected. One case involved an applicant who waited nine years before declaring his sexual orientation.
These arrests follow a broader investigation conducted in April, which uncovered similar practices involving other firms and advisors. That earlier report led to two separate arrests in May. During that investigation, an advisor named Tanisa Khan was captured on camera offering a “comprehensive package” for false asylum claims, including creating evidence of attendance at gay venues. Khan later attributed her remarks to a “misunderstanding” regarding communication and denied providing fraudulent advice or materials. Which revealed that law firms and advisers were helping migrants pose as gay in an effort to get asylum, it follows a investigation earlier this year.
The group involved in the earlier investigation, Worcester LGBT, has since ceased operations. Its founder had previously maintained that the organization neither created nor supported fabricated evidence and that it was not their responsibility to verify the sexual orientation of individuals seeking help.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood condemned the activities, stating that those who exploit the system for profit are beneath contempt and undermine the support provided to genuine refugees. She warned that those involved in such fraud will face prosecution, have their assets seized, and be removed from the country. Convictions for asylum fraud can result in prison sentences of up to 10 years. Stripped of your dirty money and shut down,” she said, to the gangs profiting from this disgraceful fraud: you will be prosecuted. A conviction for asylum fraud carries a maximum sentence of up to 10 years in prison.
