UK Customs agents employed illegal immigrants as border guards

London, Sept.29 : Bungling Customs agents employed illegal immigrants as guards to defend Britain's borders.

According to the Daily Express, a total of seven immigrants lied their way into security jobs at HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) with forged documents last year.

The dodgy staff worked for a contractor that guarded customs buildings before they were collared in December.

Since then one of the workers has been arrested, five have resigned and the other is on maternity leave while her immigration status is investigated.

The contractor was used until April this year, when the UK Border Agency took over.

The embarrassing revelations were exposed after a Freedom of Information request.

The Tories have branded Britain's border security "a fantasy world" after this expose.

Shadow Home Secretary Dominic Grieve said: "It is surreal and deeply ironic that an organisation dedicated to protecting our borders has been employing illegal immigrants."

It is not the first time HMRC has been caught using illegals.

In 2005, a total of 10 staff employed to clean HMRC offices was found to be carrying forged documents. The group may have even had access to the border control offices.

HMRC said the latest revelations had been exposed after a routine check on paperwork found "irregularities".

ANI