Suspects held as gardaí probe sham marriages

A NUMBER of people have been arrested and are being questioned at Ballyhaunis Garda Station today (Wednesday) as part of a nationwide probe by An Garda Síochána into sham marriages.

Eight searches have been carried out in Co. Mayo over the past 24 hours as part of the garda operation, which is codenamed Operation Vantage.

In August, the Garda National Immigration Bureau started targeting so-called marriages of convenience here.

Criminal gangs are believed to be raking in large profits by organising residency status for non-EU nationals through sham marriages.

Eight searches have been carried out this week of residential and business premises in Mayo as part of the garda investigation - the second highest in the country.

The greatest number of searches - 21 in all - were carried out in Dublin city and county.

Gardaí aren't commenting today on the Mayo arrests except to confirm they have taken place and a number of people are being questioned at Ballyhaunis for a variety of offences under the Immigration Act and Criminal Justice Act.

Last July, gardaí investigating a suspected sham marriage racket in the Ballinrobe area made three arrests.

The Ballinrobe investigations centred on the suspected trafficking of females from eastern Europe into the south Mayo area for arranged marriages.