A groom and a wedding guest were arrested just moments before they were due to take part in a suspected sham marriage in Weybridge. The groom, an Algerian, was due to marry his French bride.
Acting on information that the relationship may not be genuine, Home Office Immigration Enforcement officers swooped in on the ceremony at Weybridge Registry Office at around 11.30 am on Tuesday 25 June.
Enforcement officers also interviewed the guests present and found an Algerian man who was an immigration offender.
The 23-year-old groom and his 20-year-old wedding guest, both Algerians, were arrested and detained pending removal. Both had been in the country illegally having overstayed their visas and lived at the same address in Weybridge.
Sham marriage
The operation was carried out with the full co-operation of the Superintendent Registrar.
A sham marriage or civil partnership typically occurs when a non-European national marries someone from the European Economic Area as a means of attempting to gain long-term residency and the right to work and claim benefits in the UK.
Anyone with information about immigration crime can contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 anonymously.