INVESTIGATION: Undercover in Britain’s immigration black market

INVESTIGATION: Undercover in Britain’s immigration black market

Author: The Times January 28, 2026 Duration: 29:08

As immigration rules have tightened in recent months, some migrants already working in the UK, whose visas have been cancelled, find themselves in a precarious position. Agents are selling a workaround, offering to arrange fake jobs which can be used to obtain real visas, in exchange for exorbitant fees. The Times went undercover, posing as a migrant facing deportation, to expose how this black market is operating.

This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestory


Guest: Shanti Das, senior investigations reporter, The Times.

Host: Manveen Rana.

Producer: Taryn Siegel.

We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.com


Read more: How migrants are buying fake jobs to stay in the UK illegally

Photo: Times Media Ltd.

This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here.


Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.


Each morning, The Story arrives with a clear purpose: to move beyond the headlines and explore the forces and people shaping our world. Guided by the experienced reporting of Manveen Rana and Luke Jones, this daily podcast from The Times delves into the most significant political developments and news events with a level of depth and context that only their global network of journalists can provide. You’ll hear more than just summaries; you’ll get a nuanced understanding of why a story matters, who it impacts, and what might happen next. The analysis is sharp and the storytelling is compelling, designed to fit into your morning routine seven days a week. It’s a direct line to the frontline reporting and editorial expertise of one of the world’s most respected news organizations. This consistent, in-depth approach makes the podcast a reliable resource for anyone looking to truly comprehend the day’s events. Supported by readers of The Times and The Sunday Times, the production maintains a commitment to journalistic integrity and thorough exploration, ensuring every episode provides substance and clarity.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

The Story
Podcast Episodes
Is Trump out on his own over the Hormuz crisis? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:57
The war in the Middle East has now entered its third week and shows no sign of ending any time soon. Oil prices have soared and transatlantic relations between the US and its allies are strained. So what are President Tr…
Is Cuba next? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:24
Throughout Cuba, fuel shortages, blackouts, and food scarcity have become the norm. Since the US intervention in Venezuela in January, the oil lifeline into Cuba has all but dried up. Trump is now claiming that Cuba is o…
Inside the world of "Looksmaxxing" - The Sunday Story [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:17
From the shadowy corners of incel forums, a new obsession was quietly emerging. To succeed, financially, socially and sexually, you need to level up your face and frame. Enter “Looksmaxxing”, the idea that how you look c…
BONUS: Last Man Standing - the final battle [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 42:37
The Story host Manveen Rana and her Times colleague Anthony Loyd continue their search for what happened to the British photojournalist John Cantlie, after he was kidnapped by ISIS in Syria. In this thrilling denouement…
Will the Mandelson files expose Starmer? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:34
Peter Mandelson’s disastrous few months continue apace, after the government released a tranche of documents that tell us a lot about his hiring - and firing - as ambassador to the US. So what’s in the files? And what do…
The Gulf's moment of truth - reshaping the Middle East [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:31
As Iran continues to attack its Gulf neighbours could the strikes turn into a wider war? Who might be drawn in? And with Iran hitting friends as well as foes, how will this war reshape the Middle East and its relationshi…
Why oil matters: conflicts abroad, costs at home [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:21
War in the Middle East has caused oil and gas prices to soar and sent the markets into turmoil. But why does oil still have such a powerful influence over the cost of household goods? And what has history taught us about…
Iran has a new leader. How long will he last? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:51
Iran has appointed a new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei. He’s the son of the late Ali Khamenei and a shadowy figure with a history of orchestrating brutal crackdowns on dissenters. President Donald Trump is also not a…
How AI helped Trump attack Iran [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:56
The use of Artificial Intelligence by militaries used to be talked about in the abstract, but during the US and Israel’s strikes on Iran we’ve seen it used in real time. So what happens when you have robots who can make…