Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has claimed that illegal migration creates “fertile ground” for crime, following a major corruption probe in Salerno that uncovered thousands of fraudulent residence permit applications.
The investigation by anti-mafia prosecutors has implicated 36 individuals and revealed over 2,000 false residence permit applications, allegedly part of a system that exploited migrants willing to pay for legal status. Meloni, reacting on social media, said this confirms the government’s warnings about migration being used for criminal gain.
She stressed that immigration has been manipulated for profit, generating illegal earnings worth millions of euros. In response, the government has intensified controls to prevent legal entry quotas from being exploited. Meloni also revealed that she has submitted a complaint to Italy’s national anti-mafia prosecutor to expose further irregularities in the system.
“Immigration cannot be left at the mercy of crime,” she stated, reaffirming her administration’s commitment to enforcing strict immigration laws.
The corruption scandal has also impacted Italy’s political landscape, as the opposition Democratic Party (PD) suspended its Campania treasurer, Nicola Salvati, after he was placed under house arrest in connection with the probe.