Thirteen people were today charged with involvement in an alleged Leicester-based plot to organise sham marriages
The seven Nigerians, five Portuguese and a Cameroonian were arrested earlier this year as part of an investigation by Home Office immigration officials.
Today, they were officially charged with facilitating breaches of the UK's immigration laws.
They have been released on bail and are due to appear at Leicester Magistrates' Court on Monday, January 6.
Seven of the suspects are from Leicester, a Home Office spokesman confirmed.
The others are from London, Peterborough, Bromley, Romford and Aylesbury.
Andy Radcliffe, of the Home Office's immigration enforcement team, said: "We are working closely with churches and registrars to identify suspect marriages and, where we believe a wedding may not be genuine, we will take action."
