British Airways: British authorities are collaborating with Indian law enforcement to locate a British Airways supervisor who allegedly orchestrated a GBP 3M visa scam spanning over five years.
The suspect, a 24-year-old employee stationed at Heathrow Airport’s Terminal 5, purportedly facilitated illicit travel across the British Airways network by exploiting a loophole, charging clients GBP 25K per trip.
British Airways Supervisor Issue Viral
According to reports from The Sun newspaper, the suspect disappeared with his partner, also a BA ground services staffer, after being apprehended on January 6 and subsequently released on bail. It is believed that they fled to India, where they have purportedly acquired multiple properties.
The scheme involved arranging travel for clients, primarily from India, who lacked proper visa documentation. Additionally, the suspect assisted UK-based asylum seekers in avoiding deportation by arranging flights to destinations like Canada. Canadian authorities became suspicious after observing a pattern of asylum claims from passengers arriving on BA flights to Toronto and Vancouver.
Investigations revealed that the suspect falsely verified passengers’ eligibility for electronic travel authorizations (ETAs) required for entry into certain countries.
By exploiting the lack of immigration checks by airline staff, he facilitated unauthorized travel, leading passengers to countries where they lacked permission to enter. Upon arrival, these passengers discarded their documents and sought asylum.
This elaborate scheme highlights the vulnerabilities within airline security protocols and the potential consequences of exploitation by unscrupulous individuals.
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