Three held in Carmarthen 'sham marriage' raid

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-24160720

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Three people have been arrested at a suspected sham wedding in Carmarthen.

Police raided the ceremony moments before a 31-year-old Ghanaian man was due to wed a 25-year-old British woman.

The Home Office said checks showed the man had been in the country illegally and was due to be removed from the UK.

The groom was arrested in the register office raid along with two Ghanaian guests with spent visas who were released on immigration bail. The bride was interviewed by police and released.

Immigration enforcement officers intervened at the ceremony after acting on a tip off that the relationship "may not be genuine".

The groom, who had been living in London, has been detained pending his removal.

The guests, a woman aged 27 and a man aged 28, will have to report regularly to the Home Office while steps are taken to remove them from the country.

Andrew Hogan, from Home Office Immigration Enforcement, said: "We are working closely with registrars to clamp down on sham weddings and civil partnerships.

"This operation is another example of the success that we are having.

"Where there are suspicions that a relationship may not be genuine we will investigate and, if necessary, intervene to stop it happening."