Immigration: "Lambrusco" and his accomplices arrested in Modena

Here we go again: just four days ago it was L'Aquila, and today it is Modena's turn. As a matter of facts, Police operations against criminal networks organizing fake recruitments of immigrant workers are increasing.

Six people were arrested, and nine were reported to the judicial authority by Modena's Criminal Investigation Department on charges of criminal association aimed at favouring illegal entry of foreigners.

The immigration quota decree option
No ships of shame at the mercy of the sea, no violent, ruthless smugglers. Fulfilling the European dream was very easy: 10,000 to 15,000 dollars were enough thanks to a network of "experts" above suspicion.

Operation "Lambrusco"
It worked like this: a Pakistani national, whose nickname was "Lambrusco", perhaps because of his passion for the famous local wine, identified the number of seasonal workers according to the immigration quota decree. His accomplice in Pakistan drew up a list of would-be "workers", whose real aspiration was just entering Italy, in order to reach their ultimate destinations in northern Europe.

Once the immigrant's names had been obtained, it was a child's play: a farms' consultant contacted crooked entrepreneurs who were ready to hire the mock Asian workers. More often the same consultant provided names and counterfeit documents on behalf of the unaware farm owners.

Having identified the farms who were ready to make these fake recruitments, some employees of various business federations in Modena submitted the online application to obtain the necessary temporary residence permits for work reasons. It appears that at least 40 local farms were involved.

An international network
After obtaining the documents in Italy, Lambrusco's accomplices in Pakistan, India and Bangladesh started the procedures for the migrants' departure with Italian embassies and consulates.

Apparently, everything was lawful expect that almost none of the thousands of Indian, Pakistani and Bangladeshi citizens have ever worked in Italy, not even for a single day. Once in Italy, they either became nameless people or, thanks to their temporary stay permit, they reached other European countries, regularly crossing Italian borders.

Italian