Italian authorities have arrested 10 suspects accused of forging and illegally providing fake residency permits to foreigners in Italy.
Police in Catania on Wednesday arrested 10 suspects - five Italians and five foreigners - accused of criminal association to favor illegal immigration by forging and granting illegal residency permits in Italy, investigative sources said.
Three public officials among those arrested
Three public officials working for Catania's city hall and a Bangladeshi national known to police for counterfeiting documents are among those arrested as part of the so-called ''it can be done'' operation conducted by DIGOS security police and coordinated by the local State attorney's office. Five suspects were jailed and five others were placed under house arrest.
According to investigative sources, the three public officials took bribes to issue false statements, among other charges.
Estimated 100 foreigners benefited from ring
The suspects used encrypted messages to elude police, asked to be paid for each service they provided, giving discounts to certain categories and attracting customers by offering to pay back those who were not satisfied by their services, investigators said.
According to the sources, an estimated 100 foreign nationals used the organization to obtain permits.