Gang jailed over fake passports

Sophisticated forgery tools were found during police raids

A gang has been jailed for a total of 13 years for their part in an international fake passport scam.

Police found 460 false passports and identity cards at properties across London after arresting Moumen Smaine, Tarik Chellouj and Izem Kamel last May.

Investigations revealed the passports had been brought into the UK by Delphine Rouvier, who was then arrested in July.

All four were sentenced at Southwark Crown Court on Monday.

After the men were arrested officers carried out a search of their homes and found sophisticated forgery tools including computer and laminating equipment.

Fake identity

Moumen Smaine, 37, of Stoke Newington, north London, admitted conspiring to make false instruments and was sentenced to three years in prison.

Tarik Chellouj, 34, of Brixton, south London, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute false instruments and to an offence of money laundering. He was jailed for three and a half years.

Delphine Rouvier, 22, a French national who lived in Marseille, admitted conspiring to distribute false instruments and was sentenced to two and a half years.

Izem Kamel, 29, West Norwood, south east London, was found guilty of conspiracy to distribute false instruments and jailed for four years.

He was cleared of conspiring to make false instruments.

Dep Ass Com Peter Clarke, of the Metropolitan Police's Anti-Terrorism Branch said: "'Although it is unclear what the passports were to be used for we have cut off a supply of fake identity documents that could have been sold on for use in any number of crimes."