Illegal immigration: 10 arrests for false contracts and bribes

Roma – The fight against illegal immigration continues unabated throughout the country. In recent weeks, several law enforcement operations have uncovered a widespread and well-organized system of document fraud, false employment contracts, and bribes to facilitate the illegal entry of migrants into Italy.

The latest major operation, coordinated by the Central Operations Service (SCO) of the State Police, led to the arrest of 10 people, including 9 foreigners, and the checks of 1.418 individuals, with a specific focus on residence permits issued through the "flow decree" procedures.

The cost of the operation is impressive:

167 businesses and homes inspected,
100 cases with document anomalies found,
135 foreigners under investigation for alleged irregularities in their stay,
65 Italians and 27 foreigners, all employers, reported to the judicial authorities or under further investigation.

According to what has emerged, several criminal groups have built a veritable illicit market around the demand for legal entry into Italy, exploiting the fragility of the system and the expectations of migrants. Fees for an irregular "procedure" ranged between €1.000 and €5.000, and the total illicit proceeds are thought to exceed half a million euros.

Among the most used methods:

false employment contracts,
fictitious or non-existent addresses, sometimes used dozens of times as presumed residences,
false residence certificates,
illicit intermediation services.
The operation involved the Flying Squads of over 25 provinces—including Milan, Turin, Naples, Bologna, Bari, Reggio Calabria, Foggia, and Prato—with the support of the Crime Prevention Departments and Immigration Offices of the Police Headquarters.

Among those arrested and wanted are also individuals affected by warrants for serious crimes:

an Italian is wanted for criminal association aimed at aiding illegal immigration,
a foreigner is wanted internationally for murder,
two others were arrested for drug dealing,
one for robbery,
others for assault and resisting a public official,
and one person is wanted for violating the ban on re-entry into Italy.

Investigations are now delving into the connections between the individuals involved and organized criminal networks, particularly those active along the Balkan route, which continues to transport a steady flow of irregular migrants.

This operation is part of a broader framework: in recent weeks, law enforcement agencies have stepped up efforts to dismantle fraudulent mechanisms linked to illegal immigration, scrutinizing compliant employers, fictitious agencies, and actual criminal cells dedicated to human trafficking.

This is a strong signal from the state against illegal infiltration of official entry channels, but it also sounds the alarm about a phenomenon that, in addition to violating immigration laws, endangers the dignity and lives of migrants themselves.