APPROACHING British passport control, a mum grips her young daughter’s hand nervously.
She fidgets with the documents they hope will fool airport officials into letting them through.
With her eyes darting nervously and head hung low, it doesn’t take long for border control officers at Manchester airport to clock something is not quite right.
And on closer examination, it is clear the paperwork is forged.
Immediately, they are blocked from entering the UK.
But while this mum and daughter failed, there are plenty more queuing up to take their place — and the majority are Iranians, cops believe.
And far from risking death in treacherous boat journeys across the Channel, these chancers are prepared to pay £20,000 for a forged document pack enabling them to travel to the UK from airports all over Europe.
Many will get through — mysteriously disappearing once they have conned their way through customs.
Or they will dump their forged or stolen documents and immediately head to the closest immigration office to beg for asylum.
But on this occasion, Greater Manchester Police were called and an investigation — named Operation Alfriston — was quickly formed.
Its aim is to discover who these ruthless smuggling gangs are and how they operate across the UK.
This week The Sun was invited to watch as cops smashed down doors and arrested the crooks they believed had been trafficking untold numbers of illegal immigrants into Britain.
At 6am yesterday, 129 GMP police officers, alongside seven immigration compliance and enforcement officers, stormed 15 different addresses.
They arrested eight men, between the ages of 18 and 52, and two women, aged 32 and 43, all involved in a conspiracy to facilitate a breach of immigration law by assisting illegal entry into the UK.
If charged and found guilty, each member could face life in prison for their role in the smuggling ring.
The arrests took place in Greater Manchester — Bolton, Sale, Bramhall, Salford, Leigh and Cheadle — and Cricklewood, North London.
We saw cops from the Tactical Aid Unit shatter a glass door and then break down an internal one to enter a property in Bolton.
They alerted the occupants to their arrival with shouts of “police” as they marched inside in full protective gear.
Greater Manchester Police’s Head of Intel, Detective Chief Superintendent John Griffith, told The Sun: “Tackling immigration crime has become a priority for us. With the arrests yesterday morning, I think we’re just scraping the surface.
“By focusing on gathering intelligence on the infrastructure around how people are entering the UK illegally, hopefully we can deter other people from doing it.”
Often people who are smuggled into the UK will end up working for little money at businesses such as car washes, nail bars and hairdressers. DCS Griffith, who has a background in counter terrorism, added: “These people are hugely vulnerable.
“If you can imagine some of the travelling conditions that they will have faced across Europe when coming into the UK — to put up with that, there must be a real desire to get here.
“That desire often transfers into a willingness to pay a lot of money to individuals to facilitate that entry, irrespective of the success of that entry or not.
“There are numerous individuals who have paid these facilitators and actually have never arrived in the UK, but continue to engage with them and pay them just for the attraction of coming here.”
Not long before Christmas last year, the ringleader of an organised crime gang dealing with migrants was picked up at the airport and flagged to police.
At the time, he was not arrested. Instead, cops gathered intelligence so that when they struck, they could take out all the key players.
While this is technically smuggling, it sits in a grey area that shares characteristics with modern slavery.
Justine Carter
The crook did most of his communications in the Persian language Farsi, adding a stumbling block for the team of 12 police officers.
For fake documents or stolen identities and paperwork to enter the UK via an airport, the group was charging around £20,000.
Investigation leader Detective Chief Inspector Tim Berry told The Sun: “Our main suspect, who is actively involved in facilitating people into the UK, is generally using false documents of various nationalities.
“To do that he needs a number of people around him to facilitate and support with various elements, such as supplying false documents, booking travel, moving monies — that kind of thing.
“We know that he’s offering the full package for around £20,000. It’s that profit that motivates organised crime gangs to do this kind of work.”
The Manchester force has spent thousands of man hours to identify all the key players in the group, with their tentacles extending as far as Cricklewood.
Police believe most of the people who have paid the extortionate fee to travel safely through the air, rather than crammed on a small boat in the Channel, are of Iranian nationality.
But not all the fake documents work, meaning the holders are turned away at the border and sent back to the country they have flown in from.
The process of sorting what is sold as safe passage to the UK requires a team of people.
DCI Berry explained: “We have evidence of travel booked by travel agents and our view is that they’re doing that knowing that they’re acting illegally, rather than blindly.
“We’ve also arrested people involved in money exchange services because you have to move money across Europe to pay for these documents.
“A lot of the people arrested fall into the logistics and facilitating category rather than being the organiser.”
‘Exploitation isn’t always visible or physical’
But things could be more sinister than just people smuggling — it is possible that the gang is also going on to exploit the people it has helped to enter the country illegally.
This would fall under modern slavery, where illegal immigrants are forced to work long hours for low pay or be exploited sexually to pay off their debt.
DCS Griffiths said: “Modern slavery in organised immigration crime is interlinked significantly. For me, organised immigration crime is the primary offence.
“People are coming into the country illegally, and we need to stop that collectively through our police action and partnership action.
“But once people are here, they are tied into the country through debt bondage.
“They get pulled into the grey economy as gangs exploiting these people either utilise their labour or engage them even further in criminal enterprise.
“This would be criminality such as drug supply and cannabis farms and other sorts of premises where crimes can be undertaken.”
Traditionally, immigration offences were dealt with by the National Crime Agency, Border Force and immigration enforcement officers.
But with the flood of illegal migrants by boat and other entry points, local police have been asked to step in too.
DCI Berry said: “In recent years, there’s been a real push from the Home Office and from the National Crime Agency for police forces to improve their response to organised immigration crime.
“I would like to think as a force that we’re actually fairly ahead of the curve because we have a dedicated team.
“We absolutely do look to take this work on and we’re still developing an understanding about our work from an intelligence point of view.
“But wherever we get opportunities to investigate this, we will do — because we recognise the risks around it and the vulnerabilities and the harm that can be caused by it.”
Justine Carter, director of strategy and business services at anti-modern slavery group Unseen, said: “While this is technically smuggling, it sits in a grey area that shares characteristics with modern slavery.
“These cases typically involve recruitment, movement, deception, and significant financial exploitation, which can often lead to debt bondage and long-term vulnerability.
“Even without forced labour, the legal threshold for trafficking may still be met if the acts, means and purpose are present.
“In these cases, the purpose is not labour or sexual exploitation, but financial gain through the exploitation of vulnerable people.
“It’s a reminder that exploitation isn’t always visible or physical — it can be economic and deeply systemic.”
The ten people arrested are being interviewed under suspicion of conspiracy to facilitate a breach of immigration law, assisting illegal entry into the country by non-UK nationals in breach of immigration law, conspiracy to money launder and participating in the activities of organised crime.
THE VALLEY stars Janet and Jason Caperna are living the good life in a modern suburban home in Los Angeles’ Valley Village neighborhood.
Janet, 35, and Jason, 41, dropped $1.3 million on the three bedroom, two bathroom property in June 2021, The U.S. Sun can exclusively report.
The one-story house is now valued at more than $1.5 million.
The open-concept home features a chef’s kitchen with sleek white cabinets, shiny light wood floors and brand-new appliances.
The master bedroom boasts an enviable walk-in closet and freshly-remodeled bathroom.
Janet and Jason also have a large patio and fire pit surrounded by a bright green yard.
A two-car garage sits unattached from the main home.
The couple’s Valley Village neighbors include co-star Brittany Cartwright, who kept her home after her split from troubled husband Jax Taylor.
As The U.S. Sun exclusively reported, Kristen Doute and her fiance Luke Broderick also now live in the neighborhood as they await the birth of their first child.
They are renting a $6,200-a-month property with three bedrooms and two baths.
Co-stars Nia and Danny Booko now live over an hour away in Santa Clarita, as The U.S. Sun revealed the couple purchased a five-bedroom home in the city for $1.3 million.
Janet and Jason married in June 2022 in a quiet backyard ceremony at a relative’s Los Angeles home.
They later celebrated with a second ceremony in Tahiti.
One year after they said “I do,” the couple welcomed son Cameron in December 2023.
Jason recently revealed they are still planning to expand their family.
“The timing wouldn’t be right now, but in the relatively near future,” he told People.
“If we’re lucky and fortunate and blessed enough to probably expand our family by at least one more.”
Despite The Valley’s popularity, ratings have been declining from the explosive first season, The U.S. Sun recently reported.
And the cast may suffer some cuts and additions, a source claimed.
“It’s too early to say how things will go next season, they still have a lot of this season to get through but the ratings decline has been a big blow for the show,” the source said.
“The show cannot keep going on a downward trajectory like this. There will 100% be changes to Season 3, if it does get picked up for the third season.
“Some people won’t return and new ones will be added. Who that will be is still to be determined.”
SOME Bank of America customers will be forced to head elsewhere for assistance with their accounts soon.
The financial services company is conducting mass closures this year for branches in several states.
Those states include California, Florida, Illinois, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Nevada, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia, and Washington, per FinanceBuzz.
At least 19 in total are on the list to be axed with closing dates that have already passed or will arrive throughout summer and into December.
But, why the sudden shutdowns?
Brick-and-mortar locations for the top banks in the United States have been consistently trimming their footprint.
Since 2018, about 1,646 branches close every year, per data from fintech company Self Financial.
California has the highest number of closures in the past decade at 1,114, with Florida close behind at 1,091.
According to the weekly bulletin from the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, at least 32 banks closed nationwide in March of this year alone.
Bank of America, JP Morgan Chase, Wells Fargo, PNC Bank, and several others were on the list.
For the first quarter of the year, that number is up to 272.
Experts note that should this pattern continue, physical bank locations could be extinct entirely by 2041.
The shutdowns follow directly alongside increases in digital banking solutions offered to consumers.
It’s possible to deposit checks, transfer funds, invest, and more through banks’ mobile apps.
Heading to a branch now only involves unique circumstances where speaking to a teller is required.
Additionally, at least 69.9%, or over a third of Americans, also noted in a recent survey that they believed the banking system needs to change.
Bank of America and several other institutions have begun evaluating whether or not the cost of maintaining some branches are really worth the actual foot traffic anymore.
This even includes popular banks like Flagstar Financial, one of the 30 biggest in the United States with around $100 billion in assets, per data from the Federal Reserve.
Flagstar plans to shutter at least 60 branches by the end of the year.
It currently has branches in nine states, including Arizona, California, Florida, Indiana, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, and Wisconsin.
New York is losing the most with at least 14 to be taken away.
The closures come part of a three-stage plan for the company as it restructures to keep operating costs low.
It seeks to reduce rent, maintenance, and utility costs through the trimming of its footprint after citing a net loss of $845 million for 2024.
“We are on projections to be profitable now in the fourth quarter of this year,” Flagstar Financial CEO Joseph Otting recently told investors during an earnings call.
“I think this will ultimately mark the company’s turning point on its return to consistent profitability.”
The CEO of Wells Fargo also recently confirmed a significant update coming to its 4,349 branches.
TD Bank also confirmed it would shutter at least six locations in an iconic state in June.
DAN ORLOVSKY has made a final decision over his ESPN future.
The First Take star had hinted he was ready to quit the network earlier this year.
His future was uncertain, as he suggested he would be leaving for a new venture.
CBS Sports are understood to have been interested in taking him for their NFL coverage.
However, according to The Athletic, he is now set to re-sign with ESPN.
It is understood his new contract has yet to be signed.
But both the network and Orlovsky have agreed on terms.
Under his new deal, the 41-year-old will appear on NFL Live.
He will also be on other daily studios shows, such as First Take.
The former NFL quarterback will appear on ESPN’s second Monday Night Football crew.
After the Super Bowl in February, Orlovsky signed off from First Take with a goodbye.
He caught viewers by surprise with the announcement.
His contract was set to expire later this year.
“You guys know this is the end of the season for me, certainly for [Ryan Clark] as well,” Orlovsky said on First Take.
“I’m taking a break, won’t be on TV for a long time.
“I just want to say to thank you to you guys, Stephen A., Molly [Qerim], Shannon [Sharpe] for a great season.
“I love you all. You never know what the future holds, but I’m taking a break.
“I’m sure R.C. is as well. So I just want to say thank you.
“I appreciate you guys so much.”
Less than one month after the comments, Orlovsky was back on ESPN.
He appeared on First Take and Get Up, and has continued to ever since.
That is now set to carry on into the 2025-26 NFL season and beyond.
Orlovsky is understood to have rejected the chance to replace the retiring Gary Danielson on CBS’ college football coverage.
A SHOPPER has sued Costco for $14 million after claiming she was left with permanent injuries after a mishap inside a store.
She suffered a traumatic brain injury after she was hit by a heavy item “without warning,” according to her lawsuit.
Sadie Novotny of California filed the lawsuit on April 29, claiming she suffered “multiple, permanent and catastrophic” injuries.
Novotny said she was shopping at the Santa Rosa Costco with her husband on March 22 when she was injured.
The couple was checking out a heavy liquor cabinet they wanted to buy when the floor model fell “without warning,” according to the lawsuit.
Novotny caught the cabinet and pushed it backward but immediately felt pain set in, the papers state.
Her right shoulder, forearm, hand, fingers, and lower back began to hurt, according to an internal Costco report attached to the complaint.
She claims she was left with a head injury and a traumatic brain injury.
Novotny has accused Costco of being negligent by failing to properly manage its store merchandise.
The shopper also insists the retail giant “negligently failed to train, manage and supervise their employees,” according to the suit.
Novotny is also suing Costco for premises liability, a legal term referring to a property owner’s responsibility for injuries that happen on their land.
The lawsuit claims the cabinet was in a “dangerous and/or precarious position.”
This was partly due to its “thin legs” and placement on a “worn wooden pallet,” the court documents state.
She also accused Costco of products liability, which refers to defective consumer items.
Novotny is seeking a total of $14,110,000 in damages.
This includes $5 million for alleged emotional distress and another $5 million for pain, suffering, and inconvenience.
She said she’s already spent $50,000 on medical expenses and expects a further $2 million in costs for her care.
She’s also seeking $2 million for loss of future earning capacity with loss of earnings to date at $50,000.
Finally, $10,000 is requested for loss of household services.
The lawsuit was initially filed in California Superior Court for Alameda County.
Costco’s counsel requested it be moved to the United States District Court for Northern California and a judge granted the motion on June 5, according to USA Today.
Costco didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment by The U.S. Sun.
A shopper has sued Costco for $14 million while claiming an in-store mishap left her with permanent injuries.
Source: USA Today
SIMONE Biles sent an apology to the former college swimmer Riley Gaines after delivering a personal attack due to her opposing views on trans athletes.
The US Olympic gymnast and Gaines have had a social media feud over the topic of transgender women in sports.
Over the weekend, Biles had said that Gaines looked like a man after the ex-swimmer called out a Minnesota high school softball team for competing with a trans player last week.
Biles called Gaines “truly sick” and told her to “bully someone your own size, which would ironically be male.”
Gaines then responded by claiming it was Biles who was “a truly sick bully by her own standard.”
On Tuesday, the 11-time Olympic medalist opened up on her opinion in the trans athlete debate while also apologizing to Gaines.
“I wanted to follow up from my last tweets. I’ve always believed competitive equity & inclusivity are both essential in sport,” Biles wrote in a lengthy X post.
“The current system doesn’t adequately balance these important principles, which often leads to frustration and heated exchanges, and it didn’t help for me to get personal with Riley, which I apologize for.
“These are sensitive, complicated issues that I truly don’t have the answers or solutions to, but I believe it starts with empathy and respect.
“I was not advocating for policies that compromise fairness in women’s sports. My objection is to be singling out children for public scrutiny in ways that feel personal and harmful.
“Individual athletes—especially kids—should never be the focus of criticism of a flawed system they have no control over.
“I believe sports organizations have a responsibility to come up with rules supporting inclusion while maintaining fair competition.”
Biles finished her post by sharing her hope for the future of sports that can be “fair, inclusive, and respectful.”
The apology was also posted on her Instagram story as she captioned an image of the statement along with three silver hearts.
Biles’ husband, Chicago Bears player Jonathan Owens, shared the apology on his Instagram page.
Gaines is a political activist and has campaigned against trans women in female sports.
She reacted to the Chaplin Park girl’s softball team turning the comments off a post because the team featured a transgender player.
The squad had won the Minnesota State High School Championship.
“Comments off lol,” Gaines wrote on the post. “To be expected when your star player is a boy.”
Biles responded to the post and made fun of the ex-swimmer Gaines for losing to trans athlete Lia Thomas in the 200m freestyle at the 2022 NCAA championship.
“You’re truly sick, all of this campaigning because you lost a race. Straight up a sore loser.
“You should be uplifting the trans community and perhaps finding a way to make sports inclusive or creating a new avenue where trans feel sage in sports.
“Maybe a transgender category in all sports.
“But instead you bully them.
JIMMY Kimmel’s future on Who Wants To Be a Millionaire has been revealed five years after the host took over the coveted role, The U.S. Sun can reveal.
The Jimmy Kimmel Live! host began to fill in the shoes of TV icon Regis Philbin during the show’s 20th anniversary special that ran in March 2020.
From there, Jimmy, 57, has continued to be the sole host of Who Wants To Be a Millionaire, as well as front several other TV programs for ABC.
After five years of success with the famous game show, The U.S. Sun has learned that the role will stay with Jimmy for “as long as he wants it.”
“The network, producers everyone is really happy with how he’s doing and his job is safe for as long as he wants it and as long as the show goes on.
“He’s got people fighting for him at the network that really love him,” a source revealed.
The insider continued: “Jimmy is nearly a different host than when he first started. He’s really settled into the role.
“Being a game show host is a completely different beast than being a talk show host or comedian so he was green to it.
“I think he wasn’t too comfortable for a while. He had an adjustment period but now he’s settled in and has made it his own.
“He mingles with the audience more than he ever has and same goes for the crew. It’s going really well.”
A separate production source claimed: “Jimmy is the most easy going host the show has ever had.
“The least diva of the hosts, gets along the best with the crew. No one can replace Regis.
“Regis was a king but Jimmy feels like a friend on set. He really fits in.”
TV legend Regis Philbin was the first host of Who Wants To Be a Millionaire when it premiered in August 1999.
He hosted the quiz show until 2002 and then briefly returned for a 2004 primetime special as well as a 10th anniversary special in 2009.
While Regis, who passed away in July 2020, hosted the entire duration of its original run, The View alum, Meredith Vieira, 71, was tapped to take over a daily syndicated version of Millionaire.
She hosted that version for 11 seasons before departing in 2013 – where a carousel of hosts would take her place.
Cedric the Entertainer, Terry Crews and Chris Harrison hosted the show temporarily until the series was officially canceled in 2019.
Who Wants to Be a Millionaire has on and off the air since 1999.
Here is a list of the hosts of the US game show:
However, just a year later, ABC announced they were renewing the game show – this time with celebrity contestants.
Jimmy was announced as the host and is also credited as an executive producer.
The show got renewed for its 26th season earlier this year and will air beginning in July.
Currently, the show format is a pair of celebrity contestants who attempt to win a whopping $1 million prize for charity.
The first celebrity pair to win the whole game was father-son duo, Alan and Ike Barinholtz.
The pair, who are both actors, donated their impressive earnings to the ASL Program at Los Encinos School.
