Large network selling fake European residence permits dismantled in Spain, nearly 800 documents seized
via Algérie3602 min read
Spanish and French police, in a coordinated operation by Europol, have dismantled a criminal network specializing in the online sale of fake residence permits. The operation culminated in Alicante with a key arrest on May 27, 2026, and the seizure of nearly 800 counterfeit documents, including identity cards, passports, and residence permits. The suspect, who had been in Alicante since 2024, operated an online platform offering fake documents in both paper and digital formats to clients across Europe. Investigators discovered a clandestine falsification workshop in his apartment, along with 1,580 euros in cash. Europol stated that the manufacturing techniques indicated "industrial-scale" production, a common method for criminal networks involved in migrant trafficking. According to Europol, this platform was crucial for migrant trafficking, enabling individuals to bypass border controls, fraudulently obtain residence permits, and facilitate illegal movement within the European Union. Europol officially announced the network's dismantling on June 4, 2026. The agency, through its new ECAMS center, focuses on advanced investigations using big data analysis and open-source intelligence to combat migrant trafficking, including financial investigations to trace illicit profits. Europol emphasizes that document falsification is a primary driver of migrant trafficking, enabling fraudulent acquisition of residence permits in the EU. Two days after the Alicante arrest, on May 29, 2026,
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