Police uncovered the largest haul of fake passports ever found in the UK as they smashed a massive counterfeiting ring.More than 1,800 fake passports with a street value of at least ?1 million were discovered in a two-bedroom flat in north London.
Five men were in custody on Wednesday after fake passports for at least 12 countries were found stuffed into a wardrobe, cupboard and briefcase.
Among the documents were 200 fake UK passports which are often considered by counterfeiters as too difficult to make. Other passports were Finnish, Portuguese, Korean, Latvian, Slovenian, Albanian, Danish, Greek, Italian, Belgian and French.
Also found was a mass of hi-tech equipment including printers, scanners, two computers and various false immigration stamps.
Thousands of blank passport personal information pages as well as blank driving licence cards were also discovered.
When officers entered the property, a counterfeit driving licence was being printed in the back bedroom.
Three Eastern European men - one Kosovan and two Bulgarian - were arrested at the address in Poplar Grove, Colney Hatch, yesterday afternoon. They are being held accused of conspiracy to manufacture identity documents and remain in custody at a north London police station.
Following the search, two more men - an Albanian and a Bulgarian - were arrested at addresses in Essex and Finchley, north London. Both remain in custody.
The operation was run by the Metropolitan Police's Operation Maxim unit.