Passport to evil

THE News of the World has smashed an evil gang working inside MOSQUES to sell fake passports to potential terrorists.

The cocky crooks were convinced they were untouchable, knowing police raids could inflame racial tension.
But after our three-month undercover investigation the gangsters haven’t a prayer. Acting on our damning evidence, cops this week shut the scam down.
Earlier we watched a Bangladeshi Mr Big’s team of fixers tout for business, offering genuine Bulgarian passports doctored with fake IDs for £2,500 a time among devout worshippers the East London Mosque in Whitechapel.
Across the city at the Central Mosque in Regent’s Park another crew of henchman was peddling the same service.

When we met the gang boss face to face, posing as zealots on the run from the police, he was unfazed and bragged he had helped more than 50 illegals into the UK, adding:
“These are genuine documents. Nobody can challenge you. Just give me your photographs and choose a name, in four weeks you’ll have a new identity.
“Because Bulgaria’s in the European community you have full rights in this country. You can live here legally, take advantage of the free NHS, everything. And no one can stop you travelling.”
We launched our covert operation when a whistleblower from the East London mosque contacted us. Mr Big had tried to recruit the man to his dodgy sales team.
Beneath the mosque’s landmark gold dome and minarets our bearded source told us quietly: “The boss offered me £100 commission for every customer.
“He said it’s easy to find buyers—especially on Fridays at the main Jumma prayers when the mosque is packed.He then handed me a passport and asked me to deliver to a Bangladeshi who’s here illegally.

“I was so furious I came straight to the News of the World. Not only is it against our religion to commit fraud, these documents could be used by extremists.”
The passport he had was issued in the Bulgarian capital Sofia and numbered 33849711.
The photo and signature were covered with tamper- proof plastic embedded with official logos and holograms.
We tracked down Mr Big through one of his touts. By phone our investigator spun him the yarn that he was an Islamic extremist seeking travel documents for a cell of Muslim radicals trying to evade capture by the law.
The 29-year-old boss was still happy to do business and said: “I can help. We can make as many passports as you want.”

He arranged to meet us at the Nagina cafe just minutes from his home in Ilford, on the London/Essex border. He arrived in a flash BMW with personal number plate and listened calmly as our man again claimed to be a wanted terrorist.
Unconcerned, Mr Big tucked into kebabs and samosas as he told us: “These are 100 per cent genuine passports. I know a Bulgarian who has a connection in the Home Office over there. That’s how I get them. I charge £2,500 but as you will want more I can do them for £2,000 a piece.”

At a second meeting the crook eagerly took our order, carefully counted our £600 deposit, shoved it in his pocket and cynically murmured: “Allah will help us.” As he swaggered off he vowed: “Just wait for my call. Everything will be sorted.”
And it was. After our tip-off police raided Mr Big’s home at dawn on Wednesday and arrested him. In another swoop on a flat in Benfleet, Essex, a second man was detained.
Cops found images of underage children on a computer, along with binoculars on a window sill overlooking a junior school.

A man appeared before magistrates , charged with with making false identity documents. He was remanded in custody to await trial. Another man, arrested on suspicion of child porn offences, was released on police bail.