The Mossos dismantle an irregular immigration network in Barcelona

The Mossos d'Esquadra have arrested 50 people in the Barcelona area. The network they dismantled allegedly earned over 3.2 million euros through the entry and regularisation of foreigners.

The Mossos d'Esquadra have arrested 50 people in Barcelona and in other municipalities of its metropolitan area, after dismantling a network dedicated to introducing immigrants irregularly into Spain. According to the statement from the regional police, this is the largest investigation the force has conducted on this crime.

Of those arrested, 48 are men and 2 are women. The police note does not specify in which municipalities the arrests took place, beyond stating that they were in towns around Barcelona.

According to the Mossos, the organisation allegedly obtained more than 3.2 million euros from its activities. This figure comes directly from the official statement, which does not break it down by phases or by individuals investigated.

The network was not limited to the transport of people. It also charged to regularise those who were already in Spanish territory, doing so through fraudulent job contracts. They first facilitated arrival and then prepared the employment file needed to process residency.

Residency permits linked to employment require proof of a real employment relationship. Investigators place this point at the centre of the fraud, according to the same statement.

To attract clients, the group sought Pakistani citizens interested in obtaining a residency permit. The note does not indicate how much they charged each person or how many files they processed.

The operation involved 81 agents deployed in two phases, on 26 and 27 October. They worked within the Criminal Investigation Division, with the bulk of the operation led by the Central Unit for Human Trafficking and the Central Organised Crime Area.

The Mossos have not confirmed whether those arrested have already been brought before a judge or which court is handling the case. They also do not clarify whether the network operated outside Catalonia or if there are more individuals under investigation who have not yet been arrested. The investigation remains open, and the next steps will depend on what the judicial body that takes on the case decides.