Italian authorities have dismantled an illegal migrant permit scheme that earned over one million euros. Two men are accused of running the operation, which involved selling fraudulent entry permits to migrants, mostly Egyptian nationals. Judicial authorities have ordered precautionary measures against them.
The suspects allegedly secured 141 permits through fraudulent applications. These permits were then sold for thousands of euros each, giving migrants access to Italy through procedures linked to the government’s migrant quota system. Police say the scheme was carefully organized and tied to a wider criminal network.
The main suspects include the head of a tax assistance center in Piacenza and a tax advisor from the same city. Investigators believe the two men were at the core of an international network that facilitated illegal immigration through falsified documents and fraudulent requests.
Authorities said the Piacenza police, working with the local prosecutor’s office, led the investigation. On September 19, precautionary measures were enforced against the two men, including a ban on residing in Piacenza, an obligation to report to police, and restrictions on professional activities related to tax and employment services.
The case first came to light in February 2024, when a foreign national questioned the validity of a permit issued for his cousin. The cousin had reportedly paid 4,000 euros for the document, which raised suspicions. This led investigators to uncover the broader scheme.
Police found that the suspects submitted false statements and forged signatures of business owners to inflate manpower requests for non-EU workers. The strategy was to create requests far higher than real business needs, making it easier to secure permits. Extra permits obtained in this way were then sold for profit.
Eighteen businesses were implicated in the investigation, with many permits already revoked by the prefect’s office. Authorities said this action has prevented illegal entry into Italy for those who attempted to use the fraudulent permits.
The case highlights growing concerns about the misuse of migrant quotas in Italy. Officials stressed that strict monitoring and enforcement are essential to stop criminal networks from exploiting vulnerable migrants and undermining immigration rules.