Carabinieri police in Italy have dismantled a criminal network accused of exploiting migrants in the seaside town of Rimini.
The investigation revealed that migrants paid thousands of euros to companies that falsely hired them, allowing them to enter Italy.
The operation, which began after a migrant reported the exploiters, resulted in 12 arrests and other precautionary measures on December 9. The suspects face charges of aiding illegal immigration, labor exploitation, and prostitution. Among those arrested were a state welfare employee, a union member, and an accountant.
The network, active between 2017 and 2020, allegedly recruited North African migrants who paid for fake contracts and unemployment benefits. It also organized fake marriages, and some migrants were coerced into prostitution.
Four suspects were jailed, while seven were placed under house arrest. The main suspect, Giuseppe T., managed a hotel in Rimini and is accused of coordinating the scheme. Investigators found that migrants paid up to 6,000 euros for a residence permit, and lived in substandard conditions. An INPS employee and a union member are also under investigation for aiding the operation.
