NAN-F-13
Cops
Rome, Feb. 20, 2017 (dpa/NAN) Police said Monday they had busted a criminal ring that sold fake work papers to thousands of immigrants, allowing them to obtain Italian residency permits and access to the rest of the European Union.
Police arrested the ringleader, a 55-year-old Milan-area accountant, and 10 middle men and recruiters hailing from Egypt, Italy, Morocco, Pakistan and Tunisia who in 2007-16 set up 828 dummy companies that hired what investigators say is “an enormous number” of non-EU citizens.
The “clients” paid anywhere from 300 to 3,000 euros (320-3,200 dollars) for the papers.
Investigators have so far analysed 35 of the dummy companies that provided fake jobs for 1,536 people, netting the racketeers an income of up to three million euros in 2012-16.
Another 160 suspects remain under investigation, including 116 “clients”.(dpa/NAN)
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Edited by Celine-Damilola Oyewole/Sadiya Hamza