Two Pakistani men and a Slovakian woman have been arrested in Watford on suspicion of sham marriage offences.

Muhammed Ismail, 29, Muhammed Shah, 22, and Bozena Makosova, 25, appeared at Hatfield Magistrates Court today (Thursday), charged with conspiring to facilitate a breach of the UK’s immigration laws.

The trio were arrested by officers from the UK Border Agency’s Immigration Crime Team, at an address in St Albans Road, on Tuesday morning.

All three have been remanded in custody to appear at St Albans Crown Court, on April 4.

Immigration checks revealed a third man found at the property was a 35-year-old failed asylum seeker from India. The UK Border Agency is now taking action to remove him from the UK.

Officers also identified a 19-year-old Slovakian woman as a potential victim of human trafficking. She was taken to a place of safety.

The arrests follow those, on January 11, of another Pakistani national, Ghayoor Shah, 31, and Slovakian national Lenka Karapinova, 29, as they were about to marry at Watford Register Office, in Clarendon Road.

Both were charged with conspiring to facilitate a breach of the UK’s immigration laws, and will appear at St Albans Crown Court, on April 4.

Anyone with information about immigration crime should telephone Crimestoppers, on 0800 555 111, or visit the UK Border Agency's website.