Spanish police apprehend four suspects for supplying false papers to migrants

The National Police have apprehended four individuals for providing migrants with counterfeit documents to regularise their residency in the country. In a recent announcement from the Ministry del Interior, it was revealed that three of the suspects are presently incarcerated.

The Ministry elaborated that this criminal enterprise housed migrants on the island of Gran Canaria, offering them inadequate sanitary and hygienic facilities. Their illicit activities amassed profits exceeding €250,000.

The criminal network operated through two separate branches, one located in Morocco and the other in Spain. The Moroccan branch handled migrants arriving by boat from Morocco in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. Their responsibilities included ensuring the well-being of the migrants and coordinating their transfer to mainland Spain.

On the Spanish side, members managed the requisite paperwork to obtain travel documentation for the migrants, expediting their departure from the island. They also handled financial transactions related to these transfers and retained control over the premises where the migrants were accommodated.

Within the Spanish-based criminal branch, each migrant incurred fees ranging from €250 to €400. In cases necessitating air travel, they pocketed approximately €4,000 for each migrant they aided.

Last week, Spanish authorities successfully dismantled another criminal organization that provided counterfeit documents to migrants facing irregular circumstances within the country.

The Ministry disclosed that the primary goal of this group was to facilitate the employment of migrants in the agricultural sector by issuing them with counterfeit documents. They also pointed out that these illicit services carried charges of up to €400 per forged document or identity theft, with an emphasis on individuals bearing a physical resemblance to the impersonated identity.

Moreover, in June of this year, a coordinated operation conducted by the Guardia Civil and the National Police succeeded in dismantling a criminal network originating from Gran Canaria.

The organization in question was engaged in the production and distribution of forged documents, primarily aiding migrants facing irregular situations in their journey from the Canary Islands to mainland Spain or other EU member states.

This incident underscores that Spain has confronted similar challenges in the past related to the illicit production of documents and assisting migrants.