The Sun, a British tabloid, has done the kind of investigative reporting that the larger papers can’t seem to manage: it busted a ring of corrupt Pakistani officials who were selling passports and visas that would allow buyers to enter Britain along with Pakistan’s Olympic team, and perhaps even gain access to the Olympic stadium.
As soon as its operative obtained his false passport, the paper turned its information over to MI6.
Many thanks to Vlad Tepes for uploading this video:
Below are excerpts from the accompanying article:
Hat tip: Seneca III.
As soon as its operative obtained his false passport, the paper turned its information over to MI6.
Many thanks to Vlad Tepes for uploading this video:
Below are excerpts from the accompanying article:
Olympic ‘Terror Visas’ Racket
Pakistan passport gang is smashed
A VISA scam giving potential terrorists the chance to sneak into Britain with Pakistan’s Olympic team has been smashed by The Sun.
We infiltrated a crime ring offering false passports, visas — and access to London 2012 as bogus support staff.
We uncovered a ring of corrupt Pakistani officials and travel staff conspiring with a prominent politician to bypass stringent security.
First they provided our undercover investigator with a genuine Pakistani passport in a false name.
Then leading Lahore politician Abid Chodhary spelled out how for around £7,000 he could get our man a two-month visa — and smuggle him into London 2012 as part of Pakistan’s Olympic squad.
The Sun secretly filmed Mr Chodhary as he explained how easy it was to get into the Olympic Village by masquerading as a member of the athletes’ support team.
We were told we could even take part in Friday’s opening ceremony.
At no point did any of the corrupt officials question our reason for wanting to sneak into Britain.
An investigation was under way yesterday after we alerted MI6, the Home Office, the UK Border Agency and the British High Commission in Pakistan’s capital Islamabad.
One intelligence operative said: “The Sun has unearthed a sophisticated network of corruption. The idea of unknown agents being flown in to the UK to be put up in the Olympic Village beggars belief.
“Terrorists would have the biggest platform to perform their atrocities. A member of al-Qaeda could fly to the UK on a genuine passport in another name and the authorities would be none the wiser.
“For all of our sakes this staggering loophole needs closing fast.”
Our investigation centred on the Lahore-based Dream Land travel agency — prosecuted nine years ago for human trafficking.
We approached one of its staff and a meeting was arranged in Lahore with a fixer called Bobby...
Hat tip: Seneca III.