The Spanish National Police arrest 34 people for using fraudulent documents to enter Europe

Spanish National Police officers, in a simultaneous operation across 15 Spanish provinces, have arrested 34 people for using fraudulent Colombian documents to enter Europe. The migrants, through several criminal networks based in Colombia, acquired Colombian identity cards and passports, allowing them to enter the Schengen Area without needing a visa. Once they had the documents, they traveled to Peru or Brazil and from there flew to Spain, France, or Portugal. They paid between €5,000 and €10,000 for a complete package that included documentation, accommodation, and travel.

The investigation began in February 2025 after a common pattern was detected among several Dominican citizens who had managed to enter Spain using seemingly valid Colombian documents. Initial inquiries revealed the existence of a scheme whereby these individuals traveled to Colombia beforehand to fraudulently obtain official identity documents.

Colombian citizenship cards

According to investigators, the detainees collaborated with several criminal organizations based in Colombia specializing in migrant smuggling. These networks facilitated the acquisition of Colombian national identity cards through illicit procedures at the country’s civil registry offices. In some cases, migrants were registered as Colombian citizens using personal information belonging to third parties who had never obtained their own identity documents. In others, registrations were carried out with the participation of false witnesses who corroborated an alleged lack of registration at birth for various reasons.

No visa required

Once they obtained their Colombian national identity card, the individuals involved applied for a Colombian passport, a document that allowed them to travel visa-free to countries within the Schengen Area, unlike Dominican citizens. Their itinerary included travel through various South American countries, especially Peru and Brazil. From these countries, they flew to Europe, primarily to destinations such as Spain, Portugal, and France. However, in most cases, Colombia was the final destination due to cultural, linguistic, and family ties.

Investigations have also revealed that some of those arrested not only used the fraudulent Colombian identity to enter the country, but continued to use it for various procedures such as immigration matters, registration at hotels, opening bank accounts, contracting telephone lines, sending money and even identifying themselves to law enforcement officers in public.

International collaboration

The operation benefited from international collaboration through bilateral police cooperation channels, particularly through the National Police Liaison Officer in the Joint Group against Organized Crime in Colombia. This collaboration provided information on various actions taken by Colombian authorities against criminal organizations involved in these crimes, some of which even included the participation of public employees in civil registry offices, thus facilitating the commission of the frauds.

In this context, direct contact was established with the Colombian National Police to verify the true identities of the individuals under investigation. Thanks to this action, it was possible to determine the authentic Dominican nationality of those involved, as well as to prove the fraudulent nature of the documentation used.

For its part, the National Civil Registry of Colombia proceeded to cancel the citizenship cards obtained irregularly, after carrying out the corresponding checks and verifying that the holders did not possess dual nationality nor meet the legal requirements for their issuance.

The operational phase of the investigation culminated in the arrest of 34 people in a coordinated and simultaneous operation carried out in 15 provinces across the country. Those arrested allegedly participated directly in the fraudulent acquisition of Colombian documentation or in its use to enter and remain in Spain illegally.

ATHENS POINT

Within the National Police’s Central Unit Against Illegal Immigration Networks and Document Fraud is the Athens Point, which acts as a call center for rapid consultations by any officer who, during their duties, detects documents with indications of falsification or dubious authenticity. If the report is positive, the Athens Point officers will prepare a Technical Report with a digital signature, which will be attached to the case file. This provides an efficient and rapid response to any doubts that may arise regarding the veracity of identity, travel, or driver’s licenses related to irregular immigration.