Udine: 19 arrests and 17 reports for immigration and illegal stays.

La Udine State Police, as part of an investigation by the Flying Squad of the Police Headquarters, led a major operation against the illegal stay of Georgian carers. The operation, coordinated by the Public Prosecutor's Office of Udine, led to 52 searches throughout Italy, XNUMX 19 arrests and 17 complaints.

The investigations began after some Revenue Agency reports of Udine, who had noticed an unusual influx of Georgian women who presented themselves as community citizens, exhibiting fake documents from Slovakia, Poland and Lithuania. This stratagem allowed them to obtain Italian tax codes and log in illegally to the world of work, taking advantage of legal, fiscal and health benefits.

Searches and seizures throughout Italy

The investigative activity led to the execution of searches in 14 Italian provinces, among which Udine, Pordenone, Bolzano, Venice, Gorizia, Pistoia, Florence, Turin, Lecce, Latina, Varese, Belluno and Prato.

During operations, they were 36 false EU documents seized, mainly Slovaks, and as many tax codes.

The 19 women arrested (6 in Pordenone, 4 in Venice, 3 in Bolzano, 2 in Pistoia, 1 in Varese, 1 in Belluno, 1 in Lecce and 1 in Latina) are accused of the crime of possession and manufacture of false identification documents (art. 497-bis CP). Another 17 people have been reported at large for the same crime.

The authorities have started the expulsion procedure for all foreign women who do not meet the requirements for residence in Italy.

A well-structured organization

Investigations suggest the existence of a organized crime network, able to manufacture false documents abroad and provide them within a few days upon payment of approximately EUR 600. Thanks to these documents, the beneficiaries could circumvent the rules on migration flows and the labor market, in addition to accessing illegally to the National Health Service.

Further developments and arrest of a fugitive

During the operation, a Udine, a man was tracked down and arrested 41 year old Georgian, recipient of a arrest warrant for housebreaking, committed in 2018 in the province of Friuli.

La Udine State Police continues the investigations to identify the suppliers of false documents and check if the same method is used by other non-EU criminal groups to get the legal presence on Italian territory and commit other crimes.