Rome: A group has been arrested in Italy for issuing fake work permits to immigrants.
According to Info Migrants, the operation was carried out by the Italian Finance Police in the Puglia region. Police have arrested ten people during the operation on charges of illegal immigration and aiding and abetting fraud. The suspects allegedly issued fake employment contracts to more than 400 immigrants to obtain residency permits.
According to officials, the group provided fake documents to more than 450 people from Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. According to investigators, the group earned about 762,000 euros from the fake contract scheme.
Investigators say the citizens were issued fake employment contracts in the construction sector, in return for which they were charged between 1,000 and 6,000 euros.
Authorities say the group’s leader is a 49-year-old Italian accountant who had joined other Italian businessmen, including an Indian national who brought in customers. The group’s leader, an Italian and an Indian national, has been jailed, while others have been placed under house arrest.
Investigators say they are also investigating immigrants and six other traders who obtained fake work permits.
