The Moroccan authorities announced on Saturday that they had dismantled a network of falsification of official documents in order to obtain Schengen visas to facilitate illegal immigration to countries of the European Union.
In a statement, the General Directorate of National Security (DGSN) said it had arrested 20 people on Friday in several Moroccan cities, including Nador (north), Oujda (east), Jerada (northeast) and the capital Rabat.
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"According to the first elements of the investigation, the criminal modus operandi adopted by this network consists of collecting sums of money from each candidate for immigration, in return for an appointment to (obtain a) visa and a file including falsified documents”
, added the same source.
The network is accused of falsifying
"official and banking documents required to constitute the Schengen visa application files"
, still according to the DGSN.
“ Material
used for criminal purposes”
was seized during the searches, said this source, in particular
“false stamps of public and banking establishments, falsified visa applications”
, as well as
“a tear gas canister, large sums of money and drugs
.
At the end of August, another network of falsification of official documents had been dismantled by the Moroccan police in the town of Oujda.
