Five go on passports trial

Five men were due go on trial today after passports worth £2.5 million were stolen from a van in Chadderton.

Boxes containing around 3,000 blank passports and visas were stolen in the raid.

The vehicle was targeted after the driver jumped out to buy a newspaper and a chocolate bar from a newsagent.

The stolen passports were destined for embassies abroad as they were being driven from 3M Security Printing and Systems in Chadderton to RAF Northolt in the early hours of July 28, last year.

The delivery was being made by an unnamed firm on behalf of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Mohammed Fyal (34), of Stretford; Mohammed Khan (53), of Werneth; Muneer Hussain (29), of Oldham; Jawad Karim (18), of Oldham; and Mohammed Shanawaz (23), of Chadderton; are being tried at Manchester Crown Court accused of handling stolen goods.