Authorities in Sant Cugat del Vallès are investigating more than 300 suspicious residency registrations that occurred over a three-week period this summer, raising concerns about an organised network behind the influx. Between late July and 18 August, 324 people – largely from India and Pakistan – attempted to register as residents, often arriving in small groups with translators and presenting contracts that later proved to be falsified.
The city council froze the procedures on 18 August and launched a case-by-case inspection. According to mayor Josep Maria Vallès, the irregularities point to a ‘mafia dedicated to facilitating fraudulent registrations’. The first set of inspections confirmed that none of the reviewed contracts were genuine and that those applying for residency did not actually live in Sant Cugat.
Deputy mayor Jordi Puigneró stressed that the phenomenon is not isolated, with other Catalan municipalities also reporting similar patterns. He highlighted the highly unusual nature of the surge, noting that the registrations followed identical procedures: groups of four or five individuals, a translator and rental contracts that belonged to someone else.
The council insists that genuine residents will not be penalised. ‘Anyone who lives in Sant Cugat and presents correct documentation will be registered. Those who don’t should not appear in our census,’ Puigneró said. Officials argue the integrity of the municipal register is at stake, since it is a crucial tool for allocating public resources.
Beyond administrative irregularities, the incident has also underscored deeper challenges tied to migration and housing shortages in Catalonia. Puigneró pointed to a sharp population increase of two million across the region in recent years, warning that public services are under strain and that broader strategies are needed at the Catalan, Spanish and European levels.
Investigations continue, and while the city has blocked dozens more attempted registrations since August, the authorities acknowledge that tackling the networks behind them will require coordination with police and immigration services.
👉 Join our WhatsApp broadcast channel to get all of the latest news delivered to you
