A case of fraud worth some five million euros linked to clandestine immigration has been discovered in a southern province of Italy, leading to 15 arrests. Five other individuals have been issued precautionary supervision measures.
A report from Italy's National Institute for Social Security (INPS) led to Italy's Financial Police in the southern city of Foggia uncovering immigration fraud worth five million euros.
A total of 15 people were subsequently arrested on March 14 in connection with the case. Five other supervision measures have been issued.
Two lines of investigation led to the arrests. The first focused on social security and assistance fraud allegedly committed by four 'ghost' companies through fraudulent claims of having hired 647 farm workers who allegedly received assistance for years (unemployment checks, family funds, paid sick leave, and maternity benefits) worth two million euros.
The second line of investigation focused on an alleged attempt to bring 337 non-EU nationals into Italy, who allegedly paid 3,000 euros each in exchange for promises to receive fraudulent employment contracts from 'ghost' companies and by exploiting Italy's Immigration Quota Decree.
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Issuance of hundreds of visas prevented
Of the 337 permit requests filed, some 263 had already been accepted but not finalized due to intervention by the Financial Police.
Among those arrested was a city councilor from the town of Cerignola and INPS official, a police officer and an agricultural entrepreneur, who is held to have been the ringleader of the fraud alongside a tax consultant and the head of a tax consultancy office.
According to the charges, the organization consisted of a highly structured network of Italians and non-EU nationals active in Italy and France who played different roles.
Also read: Italy: 14 arrested for allegedly selling fake documents to migrants
Those under investigation and charges against them
The police officer in question is now in jail on charges of aiding and abetting clandestine immigration, falsifying official documents, and embezzlement. On two occasions he is accused of using a police vehicle for delivering money to those involved in the fraud.
A former official from the Foggia prefect's office has been banned from residing in the province. He has been accused of making his network available to get information on immigration files and to overcome any issues related to receiving the permits.
Those arrested and issued supervision measures had been accused of criminal association, aggravated fraud for the delivery of public services, embezzlement, money laundering, falsifying public documents, counterfeiting seals, and influence peddling. In addition to the supervision measures, assets worth five million euros have been seized.