A total of 47 people were detained in Marbella (Malaga) on suspicions of belonging to two criminal networks. One network operated in Malaga and another in Ceuta, linked to a scheme that arranged fraudulent residency registrations for British nationals following the United Kingdom’s departure from the European Union. The operation is focused on exposing how some actors exploited residency processes and legal loopholes to benefit from the post-Brexit regulatory environment.
To date, 120 applications for irregular residence permits have been identified within this case. The arrests involve offenses tied to membership in a criminal organization, aiding illegal immigration, and document falsification, as reported by the National Police on Thursday. The scope of the investigation underscores a coordinated attempt to manipulate residency procedures and secure legitimate-looking documentation for foreign nationals seeking to remain in Spain.
All arrests occurred in Marbella, and five of the individuals implicated are also associated with two law firms: three based in Marbella and two located in Ceuta. The operation reveals that the two organizations operated using a similar modus operandi, yet there was no formal employment link between them. Both parties persisted under the umbrella of the Malaga Immigration Office, a body functioning under the Government Sub-Delegation of Malaga city.
The Ceuta unit is also identified as having a participant of Irish nationality who undertook recruitment and brokerage activities for the networks. The police investigation into these two criminal groups began in April 2021, following warnings from the Málaga State Department about links between certain law firms and residency arrangements, which raised suspicions of manipulation of thousands of residency applications.
During the inquiry, authorities reviewed more than 200 residency files submitted by British nationals and found that more than half contained falsified documents. These documents included rental contracts, health insurance policies, bank statements, invoices, and other paperwork intended to create a fraudulent narrative that justified the applicants’ residence in Spain before the deadlines set for issuing permits.
In total, the nature of the fraud involved 120 residency permit applications. Several of these requests were denied, and permits already issued by the Malaga Immigration Office were revoked as a consequence of the findings. At least three applicants were also found to be attempting to conceal their presence within the Malaga province.
The individuals under investigation sought to reside in Spain through a pathway created for British citizens who were already living in their home country before Brexit, a route that was projected to be used legitimately but was instead exploited with forged documents. Those involved attempted to regularize their status by offering to buy their way through the process, typically paying about 1,600 euros per person in cash and at locations outside the offices where the organizers conducted their activities.
The leaders of the two dismantled networks were traced to Malaga and Ceuta, with additional searches conducted in Marbella and Cartama (Malaga). Authorities recovered a substantial trove of documents tied to the scheme during these searches, illustrating the breadth of the operation.
Five main responsibilities were identified. While the majority of the law firms are being scrutinized for alleged involvement in a criminal organization, aiding illegal immigration, and falsifying documents, forty-two others face charges specifically related to document falsification in connection with the case. The operation underscores a systemic exploitation of residency regulations and highlights the ongoing efforts to dismantle networks engaged in fraudulent immigration schemes, according to public safety officials and court records cited by the authorities.
Despite the arrest wave, the investigation continues as authorities work to determine the full extent of the networks and identify other individuals who may have benefited from the fraudulent scheme. The case remains an important example of how criminal organizations can exploit legal pathways to facilitate illicit immigration and the circulation of falsified documents within the Spanish territory, drawing attention to the need for rigorous verification processes and cross-jurisdictional cooperation to safeguard the integrity of immigration procedures for residents and authorities alike.