The National Police have dismantled a criminal network in Palencia dedicated to facilitating fraudulent registrations with the Social Security system for undocumented migrants. The organization processed more than 1,000 applications for Foreigner’s Identity Numbers, and at least 371 of these applications resulted in registrations with the Social Security system, even though the beneficiaries did not meet the legal requirements to work in Spain.

Investigators discovered that the network offered appointments for a price ranging from 300 to 500 euros through closed communication channels. This allowed them to operate undetected by authorities and facilitate the registration of migrants with small and medium-sized businesses. In total, the organization’s annual profits are estimated at more than 300,000 euros.

Nine people were arrested in several Spanish provinces, including Palencia, Asturias, Murcia, Seville, and the Balearic Islands. Security forces also seized a significant amount of cash, a high-end vehicle, and documentation related to the network’s illicit accounting.

The leaders of the criminal organization face sentences of up to eight years in prison if convicted of these crimes. This operation highlights the National Police’s ongoing fight against organized crime and immigration fraud in Spain.