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A pair of "master forgers" from East London, responsible for creating and distributing over 40,000 falsified documents that netted them more than £1 million, have been sentenced to six years in prison, Daily Dazzling Dawn understands.
Bilal Iqbal, 25, and Ummad Ahmed, 32, both British citizens, operated their lucrative illicit enterprise for eight years, providing high-profile criminals with authentic-looking fake IDs. The duo was handed their sentences at Snaresbrook Crown Court on Thursday, though they will serve half their terms on license, subject to strict conditions and police supervision.
An investigation by the National Crime Agency (NCA) revealed that Iqbal and Ahmed charged £70 for fake driving licenses, with additional fees for "optional extras" like holographic stickers and raised text, designed to enhance the authenticity of their fraudulent documents. Their ill-gotten gains were laundered through a local window cleaning company.
The sophisticated forging operation came to light during a separate NCA probe into international drug trafficker Eddie Burton. The 23-year-old Merseyside-based dealer utilized a fake ID supplied by Iqbal and Ahmed to travel across Europe, facilitating the import of over 300kg of Class A drugs into Britain with the assistance of his girlfriend, Sian Banks, 25.
Iqbal and Ahmed were apprehended on January 21, 2025, just hours before they were scheduled to board a flight to Dubai in the United Arab Emirates. At the time of his arrest, Iqbal was found with envelopes containing 19 fake driving licenses, with an additional 21 discovered in his car and at his home in Ilford, Redbridge. A search of Ahmed's property in Hornchurch, Havering, uncovered a card printer, laminator, and £20,000 in cash.
John Turner, NCA Senior Investigating Officer, underscored the significance of these convictions: “These men ran an extremely lucrative illegal enterprise and operated as professional enablers. These IDs helped high-profile criminals evade law enforcement and operate anonymously. They could also be used by offenders involved in organised immigration crime to provide people smuggled into the country with false UK identities. Tackling enablers for wider criminality, such as Iqbal and Ahmed, is a key pillar in our mission to protect the public from serious and organised crime.”
Who is Mostly Using Fake IDs?
While often associated with underage individuals attempting to purchase alcohol or gain entry to age-restricted venues, the use of fake IDs extends far beyond these scenarios and is a significant tool in more serious criminal activities.
Law enforcement agencies and studies indicate that those most commonly using fake IDs for illicit purposes include:
Organized Criminal Groups: As highlighted by the NCA, criminal networks rely heavily on fake IDs to facilitate various illegal operations. This includes drug traffickers like Eddie Burton, enabling them to travel under false pretenses and evade detection.
Individuals Involved in Financial Fraud: Fake identities are crucial for committing financial crimes such as identity theft, opening fraudulent bank accounts, applying for credit cards, or perpetrating money laundering schemes.
Those Seeking Illegal Employment: Individuals without legal work authorization may use fraudulent documents to secure jobs, often in sectors vulnerable to exploitation.
Illegal Immigrants: Fake IDs are frequently used by individuals who have been smuggled into a country to establish a false identity, avoid detection, and access services.
Fugitives and Individuals Evading Law Enforcement: To escape capture or remain anonymous, wanted individuals may use fake IDs to travel, reside, and work without being identified.
Underage Individuals: While a lesser criminal offense, a significant demographic using fake IDs are those under the legal drinking age or entry age for certain establishments.
Individuals Engaged in Terrorism: In some grave instances, fake identification has been utilized by terrorists to travel undetected, establish cover, or plan and execute attacks.
The broad utility of fake IDs across various criminal enterprises makes their production and distribution a serious threat, necessitating robust law enforcement efforts like the one that brought down Iqbal and Ahmed's operation.
