A total of 10 people have been arrested and 167 businesses have been inspected as part of a police operation carried out across 23 Italian provinces following an investigation into an alleged ring providing fraudulent job contracts to migrants.
Italian police have investigated a total of 1,317 foreign nationals and 167 companies and arrested 10 people as part of an operation against illegal immigration carried out across 23 provinces, investigative sources said on Sunday, July 13.
The 10 suspects arrested, including nine foreign nationals, have been detained on a number of charges.
According to investigators, the suspects were part of an organization that allegedly used fake documents to file applications for a work visa as part of the so-called flow decree regulating the legal entry of foreign workers.
They allegedly provided papers, including fake job contracts and addresses of residence or offered illicit intermediation services.
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Over 500,000 euros in revenues estimated by investigators
The vast and "high-impact" operation, coordinated by the police central service SCO, was carried by the flying squads of Bari, Bologna, Cagliari, Caltanissetta, Caserta, Foggia, Massa Carrara, Matera, Milan, Monza Brianza, Piacenza, Prato, Ravenna, Reggio Calabria, Reggio Emilia, Rieti, Savona, Taranto, Terni, Torino, Treviso, Vercelli and Vibo Valentia, with the support of the crime prevention and immigration offices of the affected police departments, investigative sources explained.
According to investigators, several criminal groups allegedly exploited hundreds of foreigners who wanted to live and work in Italy, offering to help them obtain permits in exchange for money. The organization in particular requested the payment of between 1,000 and 5,000 euros for each irregular application it filed, totalling revenues exceeding 500,000 euros.
In particular, police found that the ring mainly operated in the agricultural, construction and restaurant sectors, allegedly involving a network of professionals who applied for the work visas at times unbeknownst to the business owners, investigative sources said.
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65 Italian and 27 foreign employers probed
Meanwhile police are continuing to investigate alleged connections between some of the individuals and organizations probed and criminal groups and networks aiding the illegal journey of migrants towards Italy, in particular through the Balkan route. Out of the 167 companies or homes checked, anomalies were reported in 100 cases, according to the sources.
Overall, 1,418 people, including 1,317 foreigners, were probed.
A reported 135 foreigners are being investigated on suspicion that they are residing in Italy illicitly, the investigative sources said.
The employers -- 65 Italians and 27 foreigners -- have been reported to the judicial authorities or are being investigated on charges of aiding and abetting illegal immigration, providing fake documents and identity fraud.
Ten suspects were arrested, including nine foreigners and an Italian wanted for alleged criminal association to aid and abet illegal immigration. Out of the other nine suspects, one was wanted on an international warrant for murder; two for drug trafficking; one for armed robbery: two for assault and resisting arrest; a woman is charged of driving under the influence of alcohol, another suspect of violating a ban on entering Italy and another individual is wanted on a range of charges.
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