Three nationals from Romania, Spain, and Morocco were detained in Madrid and the province of Toledo as part of a crackdown on a criminal network specialized in fabricating a wide range of official documents for immigrants seeking to enter Spain irregularly. The operation, conducted by the Civil Guards, led to the arrests and the placement of the suspects in the custody of Investigation Court No. 2 of Alcobendas, Madrid, on charges that include public document forgery, crimes against public health, and illegal possession of weapons.
Investigations began in February 2022 after authorities detected a shipment bound for Turkey that appeared to be concealed in a double bottom. The package reportedly contained an original, genuine passport from the Kingdom of Spain with all blank pages present. This discovery initiated a broader inquiry into a group whose members were found to be highly organized and to hold specific roles within the illicit operation, including acquiring, preparing, and distributing forged documents such as national identity cards, residence permits, driver’s licenses, and vehicle inspection documents.
Early January saw searches carried out in Quintanar de la Orden and Alameda de la Sagra in Toledo, as well as another address in Madrid. During the raids, authorities seized a specialized printer used to produce fake identity documents and driving licenses, a large stock of plastic supports with and without watermarks, and several heat-sealing machines used to laminate completed documents. Investigators also found forged identity papers, passport-sized photos to be used on the fraudulent documents, various stamps, and medical prescriptions intended for falsification, accompanied by narcotics including five kilograms of marijuana, crystal, cocaine and tusi (pink cocaine) with an erased serial number. The seizure also included weapons such as shotguns, multiple air rifles (one taken from a residence in Toledo in 2021), two stun devices, a machete, and various ammunition.
In total, three members of the criminal organization were arrested on charges of criminal organization membership, falsification of public documents, crimes against public health, and illegal possession of weapons. The operation involved coordination between the Madrid Command Information Group and representatives from security and intelligence services, underscoring the collaborative effort to dismantle this illicit network. The investigation continues as authorities pursue further leads to identify other participants and to map the full scope of the operation, including the distribution channels and the clientele involved in acquiring forged documentation.