A case unfolding in Marbella centers on a public security operation aimed at disrupting a scheme that exploited irregular migrants to obtain residence and work permissions, enabling access to the Schengen area. The operation, led by national police forces, targets a fictional entity used to carry out fraudulent processes and to regularize the status of foreign nationals who did not meet legal requirements.
Authorities report that six individuals were detained in Malaga as alleged organizers of a network described as a central hub behind a beauty center. Their alleged activity involved offering residence and work permits to irregular migrants who had settled across various regions. Those arrested were linked to a distribution network spanning Algeciras, Barcelona, Gijón, Almería, Madrid, Albacete and Granada, with orders issued to cancel the permits that had been fraudulently obtained.
Following the initial findings, investigators traced properties used to register foreign residents. The property owners stated they did not rent the properties and records were explained away by claiming they were listed in the population census through electronically filed rent agreements submitted to the Algeciras City Council. This raised questions about the legitimacy of the residences tied to the foreign applicants.
A review of the files of foreigners registered at these offices confirmed that many did not originate from the cities where their addresses appeared. Instead, the applicants originated from the Costa del Sol and Almería, and the same procedural pattern was detected: a fictitious company acting as their representative before immigration authorities. The investigation revealed that many received services on a contract basis through a Marbella manager who allegedly earned between 2,500 and 5,000 euros for facilitating status regularization in Spain. Victims described feeling compelled to engage with the process due to their vulnerable situation and a lack of familiarity with local immigration laws.
Some individuals even sold a portion of their assets or borrowed money from relatives to cover debt connected to the permits. The administrator offered a payment plan for the cost of residence permits, which in some cases was tied to unemployment benefits later claimed through state agencies. The scheme involved presenting a frame of simulated records for companies in Marbella and using fictitious addresses in Algeciras to request residence permits in the Cadiz province, rather than in Malaga where the alleged ringleader operated. Institutions aware of the transactions were able to recognize the patterns and flagged the activity as a deliberate manipulation of the immigration system.
Investigators found that the main strategy relied on a registered retail company perceived as legitimate, with operations conducted through a single administrator. In some instances, the scheme extended to arranging convenience marriages to bolster residency claims. Other times, forged registration certificates were used to demonstrate longer stays in Spain. The jurisdictions cited included Catalonia, the Balearic Islands, the Basque Country, and Valencia, where language differences and inconsistent documentation further complicated verification by immigration officials.
To complicate the investigation, two lawyers registered with the Madrid Bar Association aided the network by routing requests through multiple electronic offices. This maneuver helped mask activities from immigration authorities and kept scrutiny at bay for longer periods. The investigation continues to dismantle the web of entities and individuals involved, with authorities aiming to safeguard the integrity of immigration procedures and protect vulnerable migrants from exploitation. These developments illustrate the persistent challenge of illicit arrangements that exploit legal pathways designed to help people regularize their status while undermining the system as a whole.