Two police constables and three postal employees were among the seven people arrested by the crime branch of the Mumbai police on Thursday in connection with an immigration racket to the United Kingdom.

The two constables are attached to the Byculla police station in central Mumbai and with this, the total number of people arrested in the case has risen to 12.

According to the police, the illegal immigration racket was being run by one Aslam Panchal who has transported an estimated 35 people to the UK illegally.

Panchal, who had a business visa to the UK after traveling there in the past, used to make passports for potential immigrants using forged documents.

On the pretext of accompanying Panchal to the UK for business, the potential illegal immigrants would obtain a tourist visa.

Panchal, who has made ten fake passports in different names with his photograph, accompanied them. The immigrants would stay in the UK while Panchal would return.

The group carrying out the racket had made 45 fake passports of which 33 were made in Mumbai, 11 in neighbouring Thane and one in Chandigarh.