The National Police Corps and the Spanish Tax Agency have dismantled a sophisticated criminal network that charged immigrants up to €10,000 for fraudulent Spanish residency permits. This major joint operation led to 61 arrests, including two in Barcelona. The gang provided forged documents and even used ‘lookalikes’ to impersonate applicants at official appointments.

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The organisation, comprised of Spanish, Algerian, and Moroccan nationals, is believed to have illegally regularised the status of more than 5,000 people across Spain. Authorities initiated the investigation after detecting a significant spike in fraudulent applications for temporary residence permits, a crucial step for non-EU citizens seeking to live and work in Spain.

A Nationwide Forgery Operation

Although primarily based in Zaragoza, the network operated with collaborators across the country, establishing a presence in Barcelona, Huesca, Alicante, and Murcia. According to a report by El Caso, the group offered a comprehensive menu of illicit services, allowing clients to secure residency without ever needing to travel.

The gang’s services and prices were meticulously structured:

  • Municipal Registration (Empadronamiento): For a fee of €600 to €900, the group would falsify ID documents and authorisations from property owners to register an individual on the municipal census, a critical first step for accessing services and applying for residency.
  • Work Contracts: The most expensive service, ranging from €3,000 to €10,000, involved creating a completely fictitious work contract with one of the gang’s shell companies.
  • Logistics: A €500 fee covered the transport of immigrants and the delivery of the forged documents.

In one of its more audacious methods, the organisation employed ‘lookalikes’-individuals who physically resembled their clients-to attend official appointments. This tactic allowed them to complete the *empadronamiento* process or other formalities without the actual applicant needing to be present in the municipality, or even in Spain.

The Investigation and Arrests

The investigation uncovered a complex web of shell companies created not only to issue fake work contracts but also to facilitate money laundering. These companies would register ’employees’ with Social Security just long enough for residency applications to proceed, cancelling the registration shortly after obtaining the necessary paperwork.

Coordinated police raids culminated in 61 arrests across several cities. Most arrests took place in the network’s hub of Zaragoza, where authorities detained 56 individuals. Additionally, officers arrested two people in Barcelona, two in Huesca, and one in Teruel. Those apprehended include the alleged ringleaders of the scheme and their collaborators.

During searches of four properties, officers seized cash and a significant amount of false documentation related to the fraudulent residency applications. The crime of document forgery in Spain carries significant penalties, highlighting the serious nature of the operation.

This large-scale bust comes amid ongoing efforts by Spanish authorities to tackle organised crime. Recent police actions in Catalonia have dismantled various criminal enterprises, from a major drug network with Basque connections to a Camorra-linked ring operating in Barcelona. Document fraud also remains a persistent issue, as seen in the recent conviction of a Mossos d’Esquadra agent for forging a language certificate.