Eighteen precautionary measures were carried out by the Naples Flying Squad as part of an investigation coordinated by the District Anti-Mafia Directorate, which uncovered an alleged scheme involving false hiring practices in agricultural companies aimed at facilitating the illegal entry of non-EU citizens into Italy.
Among those targeted was an employee of the Naples Labor Inspectorate, considered by investigators to be the initiator and central figure of the organization. Also implicated were several agricultural business owners who, according to the prosecution, made their businesses available while pretending to be the employers of the foreign nationals.
The judge ordered 15 arrests, while three suspects, considered collaborators of the main perpetrators, were placed under house arrest.
The charge: criminal association and aiding and abetting illegal immigration
The suspects are charged, to varying degrees, with aggravated criminal conspiracy to aid and abet illegal immigration, forgery, and fraud.
The investigations, which lasted approximately three years, documented the existence of an organized structure active in the provinces of Naples and Caserta, specialized in the production and sale of employment permits intended for non-EU citizens, primarily from South Africa.
The system exploited the procedures established by the immigration flows decree, which regulates the entry of foreign workers into Italy.
The system of false authorizations
According to investigators' reconstruction, the organization prepared the administrative documentation needed to obtain the authorization issued by the Prefecture's One-Stop Shop for Immigration, a necessary authorization to hire foreign workers residing abroad.
The agricultural companies involved were formally listed as employers, even when their turnover was not compatible with the number of workers required.
According to the prosecution, a decisive role was played by the Labor Inspectorate employee, who expressed or facilitated favorable technical opinions necessary to certify the appropriateness of the requests and permit the issuance of the authorization.
A CAF in the province of Caserta was also involved in managing the procedures.
Up to 10 euros to be regularized
Investigators have also reconstructed the money flow linked to the illegal activity.
Foreign citizens wishing to enter and legalize their status in Italy were required to pay approximately €10 to the organization. The money was then divided among the group's members.
The owners of agricultural businesses, who were listed as employers in the applications, were entitled to a fee of between 1.200 and 2.000 euros for each request.
Over 3 blocked applications and seized assets
The investigation identified and blocked over 3 irregular applications for non-EU citizens entering Italy, as well as uncovering thousands of additional requests deemed false.
During the operation, luxury goods owned by the suspects, believed to be the proceeds of the illegal activity, were also seized.
Interesting article, but not everything is clear: it seems the system was highly organized and involved offices and entrepreneurs. The procedures were manipulated and money was transferred, but I don't know how they verified the responsibilities of all participants. Clarifications on the protocols would be useful.