Counterfeit document factory busted in Spain, linked to migrant smuggling

A major forgery ring operating out of Alicante, Spain, has been dismantled by French and Spanish police in collaboration with Europol. The operation, which specialized in creating counterfeit European documents, was uncovered in a rented apartment used as a workshop. During the raid, authorities seized around 800 fake documents, equipment used for forgery, digital devices, and cash. Europol highlighted that this criminal enterprise had reached an "industrial level" of production. Investigators believe the suspects managed an online marketplace where they offered and sold both digital and paper versions of fake identification and administrative documents. These fraudulent documents are suspected to have been sold to buyers across Europe. The operation's reach extended to facilitating migrant smuggling, as the forged documents, including entry visas and movement permits, aided criminal networks in moving people across the EU. The investigation began after a website advertising the sale of fake identification documents was identified. Europol warns that document fraud is a key driver of migrant smuggling and illegal residency within the EU, enabling criminal networks to operate across borders with significant illicit profits. The agency emphasizes that migrant smuggling remains a critical threat requiring coordinated action throughout the entire criminal chain.

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This 'business' has reached almost an industrial level.