An important network of Moroccan seasonal workers working on farms throughout France was dismantled in Tarn-et-Garonne and five people indicted, including one placed in pre-trial detention, said Monday the Border Police (PAF) of Toulouse.
Read also: An agricultural greenhouse project on the Montparnasse tower is controversial
The people being prosecuted are French people of Moroccan origin and Moroccans based in Montauban who illegally employed around 250 people, exclusively Moroccan nationals, added this source.
In two years of activity, their companies generated a turnover of 1.6 million euros but officially these companies had no turnover, according to the PAF.
During the arrests on January 19 in the Tarn-et-Garonne, 23,000 euros in cash were seized, 30,000 euros in bank accounts as well as vehicles.
The suspects were contractors of agricultural labor but did not declare their activities.
They smuggled dozens of people into France and used others who were already there but in an irregular situation.
These companies, created with nominees, provided agricultural services for operators who needed labor for specific tasks such as collecting fruit or pruning vines.
Seasonal workers were employed under different identities on several farms.
The suspects managed the sector from Montauban and had created several companies in different departments to avoid attracting attention and then canvassed farmers.
“
The operators felt like they were calling on a traditional company because they had documents that gave the appearance of legality.
They went there with their eyes closed and paid the service providers,
”according to a PAF official.
The judicial investigation was opened in June in Montauban in particular for aid to irregular stay in an organized gang, hidden work and employment of foreigners without title in an organized gang, forgery and use of forgery as well as aggravated money laundering.
The investigation was entrusted to the PAF of Haute-Garonne and to the Interministerial Research Group (GIR) of Toulouse.