A network falls that was introducing Pakistani immigrants irregularly into Catalonia

BarcelonaPolice crackdown on human trafficking in Catalonia. The Mossos d'Esquadra have arrested fifty members of a criminal network that earned more than three million euros by irregularly bringing Pakistani immigrants into the country. Three of them have been imprisoned. The organization made victims pay up to 30,000 euros, who often ended up working in jobs close to exploitation. To do this, the network made use of businessmen who simulated fraudulent contracts.

This is the largest investigation carried out so far by the Mossos in the field of irregular immigration. During it, the Catalan police confirmed the existence of a stable, hierarchical structure, active since 2019, with a defined distribution of functions, based mainly in Catalonia, and with ramifications in Pakistan. The objective was to facilitate the irregular entry of Pakistanis or the regularization of others who were already in Catalonia through fraudulent contracts.

The members of the network allegedly acted as intermediaries between Pakistani citizens interested in obtaining residence and work permits, and businessmen willing to provide employment contracts and instrumental documentation in exchange for economic consideration. In total, 224 origin recruitment files would have been processed, of which 108 were favorable. The arrests were made in Barcelona and in cities in the metropolitan area.

The modus operandi was as follows: the investigated individuals allegedly prepared the necessary documentation to process origin recruitment files, including civil registries and other documents required in administrative procedures. Likewise, they had the participation of businessmen who provided their companies as the workers' employment destination and facilitated the documentation required to process the files.

In the case of people recruited in Pakistan, they were charged amounts that could reach 30,000 euros to obtain the visa, administrative documentation, registration, and the employment contract necessary to access state territory. People who were already in Catalonia in an irregular administrative situation paid up to 8,000 euros to access simulated employment contracts that would allow them to start regularization processes.

The investigation has confirmed that in some cases, the hired individuals ended up performing work activities under precarious conditions or close to labor exploitation. In other cases, the employment relationship was merely fictitious and ended shortly after obtaining administrative authorizations or, even, never materialized. Among the businesses used to carry out these fraudulent contracts are food establishments, catering businesses, renovation companies, or mechanical workshops.

Open investigation

Regarding the half-hundred detainees, seven of them are members of the organization; and the other 43 are businessmen who carried out the fraudulent contracts. The alleged members of the organization are accused of crimes of belonging to a criminal organization, against the rights of foreign citizens, and document forgery. The detained businessmen are accused of crimes against the rights of foreign citizens and document forgery.

The police operation was carried out in two phases on October 26th and 27th, and most of the arrests were made in Barcelona, l'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Badalona, Santa Coloma de Gramenet, and Sant Adrià de Besòs, as well as in Sabadell, Terrassa, Vic, Sant Boi de Llobregat, and Sant Vicenç dels Horts. The investigation remains open and further arrests are not ruled out.