Migrants lying about sexuality with staged photos at LGBTQ parades to beat deportation – as ‘ringleader’ nicked in raid

Next RINGLEADERS of an LGBT group suspected of helping asylum seekers pretend to be gay were arrested in dawn raids today. A Sun investigation has linked the organisation Apanjon to spurious cases where staged photos and bogus supporting letters were used to help Bangladeshi migrants make fake immigration claims. 6 The Home Office said the group, Apanjon, would stage photographs suggesting the people are gay 6 A suspect, believed to be the ringleader of the group is arrested in an immigration enforcement operation and taken away in handcuffs Credit: Ray Collins Advertisement More than 100 asylum applications potentially linked to the scam are now being reviewed by officials. To watch the footage and other great Sun videos visit our video hub here Sign up for The Sun newsletter Thank you! Email address Please provide a valid email. Your info will be used in accordance with our Privacy Policy You'll now receive top stories, breaking news, and more, straight to your email. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood warned that those profiting from the fraud would be “prosecuted, stripped of your dirty money and shut down”. The men are suspected of charging between £1,000 and £4,500 to provide fake asylum seekers with “evidence packages” designed to trick a case worker into believing their claims of homosexual persecution. Read more UK news SHOP ASSAULT Manhunt after woman sexually assaulted in shop as police release CCTV COP BLUNDER Migrant who police thought was 'fugitive' after cop attack was already in jail 6 A LGBT group for Bangladeshi migrants in the UK has been linked to spurious asylum claims where photos have been found to be staged and references were faked Credit: Facebook 6 Sun reporter Julia Atherley has been investigating the spurious asylum claims Credit: The Sun This includes witness statements, letters confirming attendance at LGBT events, and staged photos, many taken at the same gay clubs and bars. Photos obtained by this newspaper show dozens of men from the group grinning in matching t-shirts at London pride and at monthly meet ups in Whitechapel, east London. Advertisement Chris Foster, regional lead for criminal investigations at the Home Office, said the fake claims were connected to a Bangladeshi community LGBT organisation called Apanjon, which is 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. Most read in The Sun POUR CHOICES Thieves steal 500kg of grapes from vineyard as year's worth of wine taken 'LAVISH LIFESTYLE' 'Couple stole £5m of school fees and used it as their own piggy bank' GOT YOUR TICKETS? EuroMillions results and numbers: National Lottery draw tonight, Oct 6 JANE MOORE Primary school sex attacks are a result of porn warping minds - we must fix it “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.” In Bangladesh same-sex sexual activity between men is criminalised and LGBT people can face harassment and discrimination. A recent study of asylum claims based on sexual orientation found that Bangladesh accounted for the second largest number of asylum seekers claiming to be gay or bisexual, after Pakistan. Advertisement But our investigation shows that the system is being exploited, with individuals profiting from helping others scam their way into a life in Britain. 6 Shabana Mahmood says: ‘those faking persecution are beneath contempt and mock real victims’ Credit: EPA 6 More than 100 asylum applications potentially linked to the scam are now being reviewed by officials Credit: Getty Earlier this year The Sun began investigating the group which would often vouch for Bangladeshi men who claimed to be gay after their initial claims were thrown out. In one case the man’s sexuality was not raised as a ground until nine years after his original claim. Advertisement Evidence we uncovered showed they had vouched for claimants in immigration cases where photos had been found to be staged, and the leaders of the group had been called out as “unreliable” by judges. Last month we approached the Home Office with our findings. Today we joined Immigration Enforcement officers as they raided four properties across east London linked to the group. During a 5am briefing officers were told that the suspects were believed to be involved in an “asylum sham, undermining our immigration system”. At 5.50am officers in riot helmets and stab vests hammered on the doors of the suspects, including two flats in the same block in Whitechapel. Advertisement Once inside they seized suspected criminal assets, including thousands of pounds in cash and jewellery as well as electronic devices and credit cards . After searches had been completed, two men suspected of being the ringleaders of the scam were led out in handcuffs. Both were flanked by Home Office immigration officers before being put in the back of a waiting van and taken to London police stations. In total officers detained two suspected ringleaders of the scam and an additional illegal migrant who was found at a property. Speaking outside the run-down housing block in Whitechapel, Chris Foster, Regional Lead for Criminal Investigations, London & South, Immigration Enforcement said he was “really grateful” to The Sun for bringing the case to his team’s attention. Advertisement He said: “In this particular case they’re believed to be defrauding our asylum system and we believe they’re doing it for personal gain. “The two suspects are from Bangladesh, and they’re purporting to support other Bangladeshi nationals, who arrive here in the UK that are part of the LGBT community, allegedly. “What we believe is happening is they are helping to support fraud and applications into the Home Office, claims for asylum, that these people are gay, and say that if they were to go back to Bangladesh, they’d be persecuted. “We believe a number of claims are fraudulent. “It’s undermining our asylum system and this is particularly important, because not only is it defrauding the system, it’s taking important resources away from dealing with genuine claimants, people who are who need our support and need our help. Advertisement “We have a really proud tradition in Britain of providing safety and security to those fleeing persecution, as long as it’s genuine. “Where it’s not genuine, we will bear down on the criminal networks like this that exploit our systems.” Mr Foster said the pair were believed to be using their sham organisation as a “shield” to hide their alleged criminality. He said staged photographs would be taken at festivals, gay pride, and known LGBT pubs to assist a fraudulent claim. The raids come as Prime Minister Andy Burnham is under pressure to get a grip on illegal migration and abuse of the asylum system. Advertisement In 2025 82,559 claims for asylum were made in the UK, significantly higher than a decade ago when the figure stood at 32,733. An estimated 44 per cent of all claims are accepted. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood told The Sun: “Britain will always provide sanctuary to people genuinely in danger. But those faking persecution are beneath contempt and mock real victims who need protection. “To the gangs profiting from this disgraceful fraud: you will be prosecuted, stripped of your dirty money and shut down. “And to those cheating the system, your claim will be thrown out, and you will be removed from this country .” Advertisement Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp said: “This exposes the migrant asylum scam that is ripping off Britain. “Immigrants – many illegal – are making up fake claims to be gay to stay here. “This makes a mockery of the system. It’s likely tens of thousands of other asylum applications are also based on made up claims to be persecuted, to be Christian or whatever else the migrants and their lawyers concoct. RECOMMENDED STORIES “ Home Office officials and judges all too often just accept this made up asylum nonsense. “This scandal is unfolding right under Shabana Mahmood’s nose on an industrial scale and it is happening every single day.” Advertisement