Immigration enforcement officers in the United Kingdom have arrested three people in connection with a suspected criminal network accused of orchestrating numerous fake asylum claims by migrants posing as gay. The arrests follow a months-long investigation by the Home Office.

The operation targeted individuals believed to be charging migrants as much as £4,500 for fabricated evidence, including staged photographs and false documents, to support asylum applications. These claims often asserted that the applicants would face persecution if returned to their home country.

Two individuals were arrested in London on suspicion of fraud and immigration offenses, with authorities seizing phones, jewelry, and a significant amount of cash. A third person was apprehended on suspicion of being in the country illegally. The Home Office stated that some of these fraudulent asylum applications would likely have been approved.

According to Chris Foster, a regional lead for criminal investigations at the Home Office, the fake claims are linked to a Bangladeshi community LGBT organization named Apanjon, based in east London. He indicated that asylum caseworkers first identified suspicious patterns in claims, prompting the investigation.

Intelligence suggests the network could provide fake letters and documents, including staged photographs depicting same-sex relationships, to bolster asylum bids. The Home Office is currently reviewing over 100 asylum claims suspected of being connected to this network. Immigration judges have previously raised concerns about the credibility of evidence provided by Apanjon.

The group is accused of employing tactics similar to those exposed in a BBC investigation earlier this year, which revealed law firms and advisers assisting migrants in fabricating their sexual orientation for asylum purposes. In some instances, individuals reportedly only claimed to be gay years after their initial asylum application was refused on other grounds.

The BBC's earlier report highlighted an adviser who claimed to be able to provide a "comprehensive package" of supporting evidence, including photographs purportedly taken at gay clubs. This led to two arrests in May as part of the ongoing review of asylum claims linked to such practices.

The Home Office emphasized its commitment to tackling fraudulent asylum claims, suggesting this operation is part of broader efforts to maintain the integrity of the immigration system.