Fake CSCS cards were sold for around £200, and UK passports fetched £900.
The criminal ring of seven men from Coventry, Nottingham, Redditch and London was dismantled following an operation led by Immigration Enforcement’s Criminal and Financial Investigation Team.
Over the course of their investigation, officers unearthed wide-scale distribution of Fake British passports, British residence permits, and Constructions Skills Certification Scheme cards
The gang was led by Steven Kanaventi, 39, of Mulliner Street, Coventry, and Alfred Adekoya, 47, of Kingslake Street, London.
They were jailed at Woolwich Crown Court in London for 3 years 4 months and 2 weeks after pleading guilty to conspiracy to manufacture fake documents at an earlier hearing.
Inspector Ben Thomas from CFI said: “Steven Kanaventi was a particularly brazen operator, to the extent that his social media alias – Chris Namatchanga – was a clear play on words of ‘name changer’.”
Kanaventi was involved in every part of the Midlands operation. He set the prices, he placed the orders with his forger Ariyo and he was even caught on CCTV posting the counterfeit documents to his customers.
Like Adekoya and Steven Kanaventi, Ariyo, Azeeza, Paul Kanaventi, Nkanta and Majawa had pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing.
Ariyo admitted conspiracy to manufacture a fake document and money laundering. Azeeza admitted possessing fake documents and possessing equipment with the intention of making fake documents. Paul Kanaventi admitted money laundering. Nkanta and Majawa both admitted to possessing fake ID documents with improper intention.
Sentences passed at Woolwich Crown Court
- Steven Kanaventi – 3 years 4 months and 2 weeks
- Adekoya – 3 years 4 months and 2 weeks
- Paul Kanaventi – 9 months
- Azeeza – 4 years
- Ariyo – 3 years
- Nkanta – 1 year 4 months
- Majawa – 6 months
CFI will now pursue the confiscation of £135,000 of cash under the Proceeds of Crime Act which was sitting in a bank account belonging to Ariyo.
