UKBA uncovers in a year 27,000 forged travel documents worldwide 
Its officials have already receive detailed forgery and detection training
27th June 2011: More than 27,000 forged travel or supporting documents used to support visa applications worldwide were detected by the UK Border Agency the previous year. Its officials have already receive detailed forgery and detection training.
The UKBA has also warned: ‘Where it uncovers fraud and forgery, the UK Border Agency will refuse an application’.It will also ban the applicant from travel to the UK for 10 years and will refer applicants and agents to the police.
The assertion came after a suspected visa forgery ring in Bangladesh was smashed following an investigation by the UKBA and local police.
A large haul of fake visas, stolen passports and immigration stamps, which could have been used to attempt to illegally enter countries including the UK, was uncovered when police swooped on a forgery factory.
The UKBA claimed: `Eight people were arrested after a fake visa discovered by a UKBA officer in the capital Dhaka was traced back to the forgers' base in the city of Sylhet in north east Bangladesh.
`Following the detection of the forged visa by an entry clearance officer, the agency's RALON (risk and liaison overseas network) team in Dhaka worked with the US Embassy in Bangladesh and Bangladeshi police to trace the forgery back to the factory.
`Bangladeshi immigration special branch officers then moved in on the alleged forgers.`The police investigation is ongoing’.
Regional director Chris Dix said: `We have made our border safer as a result of this operation.
'We will not tolerate abuse of the UK's immigration controls and this operation shows what we can achieve through close and effective co-operation with the Bangladesh authorities and other countries to target this kind of fraud.
'The UK Border Agency has effective verification systems as part of the UK visa application process. Where it uncovers fraud and forgery, the UK Border Agency will refuse an application, ban the applicant from travel to the UK for 10 years and will refer applicants and agents to the Bangladeshi police.'
2011-06-27
UKBA uncovers in a year 27,000 forged travel documents worldwide - Immigration in UK - Foreigners in UK - Immigration in UK - Foreigners in UK
