London: In pre-dawn raids, the police arrested 20 people involved in a student Visa scam and money laundering in the UK, which allowed more than 1,000 people to enter the country illegally, police said today (June 17, 2004).

About 120 police officers went to 12 addresses in London and Essex, including two colleges suspected of being bogus educational establishments.

Twelve men and eight women were arrested on suspicion of committing immigration offences and money laundering.

Most of the immigrants targeted were South African and the alleged fraud involved producing fake documents claiming that people were studying at colleges in Tooting, South London, so that they could obtain student Visas.

They paid several hundred Pounds, allowing them to get a student Visa for six months to three years.

The suspects were taken to police stations in London for questioning. The raids took place under Operation Maxim, a Metropolitan Police initiative to tackle immigration crime.

Yesterday's operation, code-named Taming, involved Metropolitan Police officers and immigration staff raiding addresses in Peckham, Upper Norwood, Anerley, Tooting and Mitcham, in South London.

Premises in Central London, Canning Town, East London and Gants Hill and Westcliff-on-Seat in Essex were also targeted, the spokesman said.

Among those raided were two premises in Tooting purported to be colleges.

The suspects have been arrested in connection with allegations of conspiracy to facilitate illegal entry and the right to remain in the UK and money laundering.

Detective Chief Inspector Steven Kupis, who led the operation, said, "This is the largest pre-planned operation that Maxim's done since it started in April 2003."

The suspected ringleaders are thought to have made at least 1 million Pounds from the racket.