Three Nigerians nabbed in Berlin for issuing sham marriage certificates

Germany and Portugal police have raided property linked to a gang suspected of arranging fake marriages in order to make it easier for Nigerians to come to Europe.

Berlin police say they searched 41 homes and offices in the German capital city on Tuesday, arresting five people.



According to Jens Schobranski, German federal police spokesman, the suspects detained are a 50-year-old Nigerian man, two Nigerian women aged 46 and 50, and two German women aged 55 and 64.

They also seized passports, European Union residency permits, cell phones and storage devices.
Simultaneous operations took place in Portugal,  Fox news report.

They are accused of selling certificates to Nigerian men documenting fake marriages with Portuguese women in more than 70 cases, taking up to 13,000 euros ($15,600) each time.