Police bust organisers of sham weddings for Italy permits

(ANSA) - Rome, January 12 - Police have busted a group of 13 Italians and five foreigners who they suspect of setting up a system to help migrants enter Italy permanently by organising sham weddings with Italian citizens for payment.
    Police in Rome took precautionary measures against the 18 people and carried out several raids as part of the investigation.
    The probe revealed that the group, led by two Syrians, would organise the weddings abroad in countries including Egypt, and then have them legalised in Italy so that residence permits could be obtained. In return they asked for as much as 10,000 euros.
    Investigators also found that the people who recruited "fake" wives were also involved in drug dealing along the coast between Pomezia and Rome. Police confiscated 11 kg of marijuana and 2 kg of hash on Tuesday.