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Hayes passport fraud couple jailed
07 January 2013
A husband and wife from West London have been jailed for making and supplying false passports and identity documents following an investigation by us.
Algerian nationals Abdelkrim Khetib, 50, and Hayat Moulay-Khetib, 46, both of Forge Close in Hayes, were arrested in September 2012 after a package containing blank counterfeit Portuguese passports and counterfeit holographic designs for use in passports was intercepted by Border Force officers at Coventry international postal hub.
When Border Force officers raided their home they found further packages containing fake Dutch and French passports, laminated passport pages, counterfeit Schengen visas and bogus official stamps.
There was also evidence of money transfers made to Thailand, where the packages had originated from, and evidence the counterfeit documents were being sold to illegal immigrants in the UK to make it look like they had the right to work in the EU.
During a hearing at Isleworth crown court on 30 November 2012 they both admitted charges of possessing false identity documents, contrary to the Identity Documents Act 2010, while Abdelkrim Khetib admitted an additional charge of possessing prohibited articles or material contrary to the Identity Documents Act 2010.
On Friday 4 January Abdelkrim Khetib was sentenced to 3 years and 4 months in prison, while his wife was jailed for 8 months.
Andy Shortland, West London criminal and financial investigation team, UK Border Agency said:
'There is no doubt in my mind that had this couple not been stopped these documents would have ended up being used to create false identities, or help people work, claim benefits or stay illegally in the UK.
'My officers worked closely with colleagues at Border Force and the UKBA's National Document Fraud Unit to bring this case to court and, ultimately, put these criminals behind bars.'
Stephen Jones, Coventry international postal hub, Border Force said:
'Border Force officers are on alert to prevent things like counterfeit passports and documents entering the UK, as well as illegal drugs, weapons and counterfeit goods.
'Their vigilance was key to this criminal couple being stopped in their tracks.'
The UK Border Agency's West London criminal and financial investigation team is a specialist unit of police officers seconded from the Metropolitan Police working alongside our warranted officers to investigate organised immigration crime.
Anyone with information about immigration offenders can report crime on this website, or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.