Researchers have cross-checked hundreds of such cards presented at companies in the agricultural and temporary work sector.
Agents of the National Police have proceeded to the arrest of thirty people, all males aged between 20 and 45 years, as alleged perpetrators of a crime of false documentation by carrying fraudulent asylum seeker cards, according to sources from the National Police in a statement.
The operation began when investigators from the National Police Station in Cartagena became aware of the use of two asylum application cards by two workers of an agricultural company located in the town of Torre Pacheco. Once the falsity of the cards was confirmed, Operation Mediterráneo was launched.
By contacting numerous companies, both agricultural and temporary work, the agents checked and compared hundreds of asylum cards and were able to confirm the falsity of around a hundred of them. As they contained the real details of the bearer, the aforementioned companies were unable to detect the irregularity of the cards.
The asylum seeker’s accreditation cards enable the holder to carry out work activities while the case is being resolved, as explained by the National Police. Most of those investigated had had their applications rejected, so they obtained a false asylum card to simulate their legal stay in Spain.
With these fraudulent cards, foreign citizens in an irregular situation have been able to be registered to work in the Campo de Cartagena and in other areas of the Region of Murcia and in other provinces, carrying out work activities with the appearance of legality in municipalities such as: Cartagena, Torre Pacheco, Beniel, Los Alcázares, Fuente Álamo, Lorca, Totana, Orihuela, Alicante and Elche.
INSPECTIONS IN COMPANIES AND ARREST OF THIRTY PEOPLE
Based on the detection of these false documents, investigators have proceeded to carry out various actions and inspections in several municipalities in the Region over the last few weeks, resulting in the location and arrest of thirty people of different nationalities (Ivory Coast, Guinea, Ghana, Senegal and Mauritania) who have been charged with the offences of false documentation in official documents.
This investigation carried out by the Aliens and Borders Brigade of the Cartagena Police Station, which is part of the Murcia Regional Police Headquarters, is still open. The thirty detainees have been brought before the courts.
