Illegal immigration and false documents: A massive raid resulted in 10 arrests and €500,000 in illicit proceeds.

A large-scale, high-impact police operation against illegal immigration and document forgery related to the procedures established by the Immigration Flow Decree concluded this morning . The operation, coordinated by the Central Operations Service (SCO) of the State Police, involved mobile squads from 24 Italian provinces , including Foggia , with the support of the Crime Prevention Units and Immigration Offices of the relevant Police Headquarters. The other provinces involved are Bari, Bologna, Cagliari, Caltanissetta, Caserta, Massa Carrara, Matera, Milan, Monza Brianza, Piacenza, Prato, Ravenna, Reggio Calabria, Reggio Emilia, Rieti, Savona, Taranto, Terni, Turin, Treviso, Vercelli, and Vibo Valentia.

The operation uncovered a widespread and deep-rooted network of illegality , with hundreds of suspicious cases linked to the introduction of foreign citizens into Italian territory through the use of false documentation , fictitious addresses and fabricated employment contracts , with the aim of obtaining the authorization to enter Italy.

The numbers of the operation

The officers checked 167 homes and business premises , finding anomalies in over 100 cases . 1,418 people were checked, including 1,317 foreign citizens . A total of 135 of these are now under investigation for irregularities in their residence permits .

Among those identified are also 65 Italians and 27 foreigners , all employers, reported to the judicial authorities or currently under investigation for crimes such as aiding illegal immigration , document forgery and impersonation .

Furthermore, 10 arrests were made, 9 of which involved foreign citizens : an Italian was wanted for criminal association aimed at aiding illegal immigration , while among the foreigners arrested were individuals who were the recipients of international warrants for murder , drug crimes , robbery , resisting a public official , driving under the influence , violation of the re-entry ban and accumulation of sentences .

Illicit profits and sectors involved

According to investigators, the cost for each "facilitated entry" was between 1,000 and 5,000 euros , with an illicit turnover estimated at over 500,000 euros . The sectors most involved appear to be agriculture , construction and catering , where CAF and compliant professionals also operated, in some cases submitting entry applications without the knowledge of the real employers , carrying out actual identity thefts.

Balkan route and links to crime

Further investigations are underway into possible connections between the individuals reported and structured criminal organizations , including international networks that facilitate the arrival of migrants in Italy via the Balkan route . The operation is part of the national "Squadra Mobile" project, launched by the SCO in 2023 , which has already been used in other sensitive areas such as labor exploitation, prostitution, illegal gambling, and juvenile crime.

A widespread and cynical network exploits migrants' vulnerability, distorting a regulatory instrument designed to meet the needs of the labor market and transforming it into a nationwide channel for illicit profit. Investigations are ongoing.

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