Six immigration officers from London and the home counties have been charged with stealing from migrants and money laundering following a Home Office investigation.
The men are all accused of conspiring to steal from people coming to Britain and misconduct in public office between August 2021 and November 2022.
Malcolm McHaffie, Head of the CPS Special Crime Division, said: “Our prosecutors have worked to establish that there is sufficient evidence to bring the case to court and that it is in the public interest to pursue criminal proceedings.
“We have worked closely with the Home Office’s Anti-Corruption Criminal Investigations Unit as they carried out their investigation.”
Besmir Matera, 36, of Reigate, Surrey, is charged with conspiracy to steal, concealing, disguising, converting, transferring or removing criminal property, obtaining leave to enter to remain in the UK by deception and three counts of possession of an identity document with improper intention.
David Grundy, 43, of Croydon, is charged with concealing, disguising, converting, transferring or removing criminal property.
Lee-Ann Evanson, 42, of Bracknell, Berkshire, John Bernthal, 53, of Welling, southeast London, Ben Edwardes, 45, of Bexleyheath and Jack Mitchell, 33, of Dover, Kent, are charged with conspiracy to steal and concealing, disguising, converting, transferring or removing criminal property.
All six defendants are also accused of misconduct in public office.
They are due to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on January 29.
A Home Office spokesperson said the men had been suspended from duty and three had been dismissed.
They added: "These are extremely concerning allegations and it is right that criminal proceedings now run their course.
"When this information came to light, all six of these individuals were immediately suspended.
"We expect all of our officers to meet the highest standards. Where those standards are breached, we will take action without hesitation.”
A CPS spokesman said: “We remind all concerned that proceedings against these suspects are active and that they have the right to a fair trial. It is vital that there should be no reporting, commentary or sharing of information online which could in anyway prejudice these proceedings.”
