Three held as raids target alleged fake gay asylum claim ring

Three individuals have been taken into custody as part of an investigation into an alleged criminal operation accused of assisting migrants in posing as gay to seek asylum. The group allegedly demanded payments of as much as £4,500 from migrants for manufactured proof, such as counterfeit paperwork and arranged photographs taken in gay clubs and bars. Investigators suspect the network backed dozens of fraudulent asylum claims submitted by Bangladeshi men who said they would face persecution if sent back to their home country. Two arrests were made in London yesterday on suspicion of fraud and immigration offences, while a third person was detained on suspicion of being in the country illegally. Immigration Enforcement officers also confiscated jewellery, phones, and thousands of pounds in cash. Chris Foster, regional criminal investigations lead at the Home Office, said the arrests related to false claims linked to Apanjon, an LGBT organisation for the Bangladeshi community based in Whitechapel, east London. He said: 'We've got some intelligence that they can provide fake letters and documents, and they could charge anywhere between £1,000 and £4,500. It could be letters of support from Apanjon, it could be staged photographs, suggesting that these people are gay, it could be letters from people claiming to be in a friendship or a sexual relationship - [a] same-sex relationship - as the claimants.' More than 100 asylum applications connected to the network are now under review, and Mr Foster said some would have 'undoubtedly' been granted. These reportedly include letters confirming attendance at LGBT events and staged photos, many taken at the same gay nightlife venues. In the photos, dozens of men from the group wear matching pink T-shirts at London's annual Pride parade and at monthly meet-ups. The number of asylum seekers seeking protection on the basis of sexual orientation has surged in recent years, reaching 2,133 in 2023. Pakistanis made up the largest share of claims, 578, followed by 175 from Bangladeshis and 103 from Nigerians. Homosexuality is illegal in all three countries.