Suspicions rose when couples being interviewed for residence permission didn't seem to know much about each other. In all the cases, one of the two already had permission to live and work in Norway, while the other arrived as an alleged spouse through a family reunification program.
Police raided six different homes in Romerike last week, and brought charges after finding evidence that they claim indicates the marriages had been arranged.
The 12 persons charged have the same ethnic background, but police won't say from which country they emigrated.
It's believed the persons involved had been divorced in their homeland and later married persons from their homeland who already had obtained residence permission in Norway. Then they all traveled to Norway, but moved back together with their original spouses.
The suspects are aged 26 to 57 and are charged with giving false testimony. They face up to two years in prison.
