Officials say they have broken up an international criminal network that was producing and distributing forged documents for illegal immigrants in European Union countries.

Europol says a total of 29 people have been arrested in Austria, the Czech Republic, France, Germany and the United Kingdom. It says part of the network was based in Prague.

Czech police spokesman Pavel Hantak says the gang provided fake IDs for illegal immigrants from Armenia, Turkey, Russian-speaking countries and Arab countries.

He says authorities in the Czech Republic last week on October 22 arrested a Moldovan, an Algerian, a Tunisian, a Ukrainian and three Armenians, including the ringleader.

Europol said on Friday the documents were used by illegal immigrants to enter the EU or to stay illegally.

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