Jailed: East Ham fraudster who ran fake ID scam

A fraudster from East Ham has been jailed for running a fake identity document distribution ring involving counterfeit passports and driving licences.

Arsen Baculi, 23, of Melford Road, was caught after he was linked to a “fraud factory” in Romford run by a Romanian couple who were later jailed.

When officers from the National Crime Agency (NCA) and Immigration Enforcement raided his home they seized a hoard of other ready-to-go documents, including a false passport, a number of driving licences, residency permits and construction industry cards bearing different names and images.

Last week at the Old Bailey, the Albanian national was jailed for five years and two months after he admitted possessing false documents and class A drugs.

Mark McCormack, NCA branch commander, said: “False identity documents are a key enabler of criminality in the United Kingdom.

“The type of documents Baculi was involved in distributing could be used to open bank accounts for money laundering, or to help people illegally gain work or access services in the UK.

“But their use could also have dangerous consequences were unqualified individuals to use them to gain employment in areas such as construction or driving.

“Arresting and prosecuting those individuals involved in the supply of these documents will make it harder for criminals to ply their trade and help to safeguard the public.”

Baculi will be deported once he has served his sentence.