ST GEORGE’S, Grenada (CMC) – Grenada authorities say they have launched an investigation into a bogus marriage scheme involving men from Middle Eastern countries and local women.

“We are conducting an investigation and these notices are part of the process,” said an official in the Ministry of National Security.

The notices, placed in a weekly newspaper, and naming at least six people, indicate that they should “contact the Ministry of National Security for further information in order to show cause on or before 31st March 2013 why the Minister of National Security should not exercise his right to do so”.

Last week the Financial Intelligence Unit also issued a notice calling on 12 Grenadian women to contact the office immediately.

FIU head, Senneth Joseph, said that the “notices are interlink and its part of an investigation” and officials who spoke to reporters on condition that they now be identified said the “marriage of convenient scheme” involved  foreigners paying a significant amount of money to women in order to acquire Grenadian citizenship.

Last October, eight people of Middle Eastern heritage were accused of falsifying documents in which they claimed they were married to Grenadian nationals in an effort to obtain Grenadian citizenship. The suspects, including a businessman, were arrested following a yearlong investigation by the FIU.