Georgian citizen arrested in Palermo for immigration fraud with victims in US and Canada
Argentine Federal Police arrested a 28-year-old man in the Buenos Aires neighbourhood of Palermo, accused of leading a network engaged in immigration fraud against Georgian citizens.
Arrest in Palermo: immigration fraud network targeting Georgians seeking to emigrate
The Argentine Federal Police (PFA) arrested a 28-year-old Georgian citizen in the Buenos Aires neighbourhood of Palermo, according to reports from argentina.gob.ar. The accused is charged with organising and heading a criminal structure aimed at Georgians seeking to emigrate to the United States.
The network operated primarily through social media, where the suspect recruited prospective applicants and offered them immigration services in exchange for money. Following changes in US immigration policies, the organisation expanded its offerings to include obtaining Canadian visas, causing financial losses of thousands of dollars through fraudulent applications.
Georgian judicial authorities issued a detention request through an Interpol Red Notice. Subsequent investigations located the fugitive in Argentine territory.
Detectives from the PFA's Federal Investigation Division of Fugitives and Extraditions initiated investigative tasks that included reviewing databases from public and private organisations, analysing social media and utilising computer systems provided by the International Criminal Police Organisation (INTERPOL). Fluid information exchange with the National Central Office (OCN) in Tbilisi made it possible to determine that the subject was located in a residence in Palermo.
After confirming his whereabouts, detectives carried out surveillance at the location until they identified and arrested the individual on Soler Street at number 3800. Subsequently, they requested a search warrant from the National Criminal and Correctional Court No. 9, in charge of Dr Marcelo Martínez de Giorgi, Office No. 17 of Dr Gustavo Ariel Ramírez.
With judicial authorisation and in coordination with the United States Department of Homeland Security linked to the FBI, officers conducted a raid on the residence. During the operation they seized passports and documents in Georgian—allegedly used to process false documents—a notebook and a mobile telephone. The material will be incorporated as evidence in the extradition case.
Source: Google News AR — Crime