Piacenza: illegal system of authorizations for foreigners discovered, precautionary measures against a CAF and an accountant

La State Police, coordinated by Public Prosecutor's Office of Piacenza, executed a precautionary measures under a extensive investigation into an illicit system of "trading" of permits upon entry into Italy of non-EU citizens through the procedures of the Flows Decree.

The affected subjects are the owner of a Tax Assistance Center (CAF) of Piacenza and a accountant from Piacenza, considered the terminals of a international criminal network dedicated to facilitation of illegal immigration, especially Egyptian citizens.

The investigation began in February 2024, when a foreign citizen turned to the Prefecture of Piacenza asking for clarifications on the authenticity of a clearance purchased for 4.000 €The report triggered a complex investigative activity by the Flying Squad, with seizures and analysis of paper and computer documentation.

Thanks to the collaboration ofImmigration office and Guardia di Finanza, it was ascertained that the two suspects, in collaboration, had created a fraudulent mechanism to allow foreigners to enter Italy, obtaining thousands of euros per person illegally. It has been rebuiltirregular issuance of 141 authorizations, all obtained through fraudulent means.

Il CAF owner it turned out to be the engine of international criminal activity, reselling the clearances on the foreign market, especially Egyptian, at prices up to 12.000 € each one. The business consultantInstead, falsely asserted the companies' earning capacity involved, thus allowing them to justify requests for non-existent hiring. In exchange, he received compensation via PostePay top-ups.

Le 18 companies are involved, many of which they did not have enough income for even a single employee. In some cases they even came the entrepreneurs' signatures were falsified to submit further requests. The system exploited the silent-assent mechanism, saturating the portals with hundreds of practices, preventing in-depth checks.

The investigations have collected numerous criminal charges with sentences of up to 24 years in prison, thanks to searches, analyzed files and testimonies.Immigration office has also started the revocation of numerous permits, preventing entry into Italy to those who had paid the criminal network. precautionary measures include:

• for the CAF holder: ban on residence in Piacenza, obligation to report to the judicial police e ban on the intermediation of foreign labor;

• for the accountant: ban on practicing the profession.

It is estimated that the criminal network has made over 1 million euros thanks to this illicit system.