Luxembourg prosecutors investigate hundreds of suspected cases of benefit fraud by migrants
The Grand Duchy's public prosecutor's office revealed on Tuesday 7 July a vast investigation into benefit fraud affecting hundreds of migrants who entered the country with forged documents. Twenty-five people are targeted by accusations.
Luxembourg prosecutors investigate hundreds of suspected cases of benefit fraud by migrants
The public prosecutor's office of the Grand Duchy revealed on Tuesday 7 July that it is conducting an in-depth investigation into benefit fraud affecting several hundred migrants who entered the territory using false documents.
The operation, launched in summer 2023, targets notably the General Directorate of Immigration, which falls under the Ministry of the Interior. The alleged offences include corruption, abuse of influence, money laundering, document forgery, use of forged documents, subsidy fraud and migrant trafficking. Twenty-five people are currently subject to prosecution, although no formal indictment has yet been issued.
On 7 July 2026, investigators conducted searches at the General Directorate of Immigration and the Ministry of Higher Education and Research. They also searched five private companies and the homes of several suspects.
The prosecutor's office highlighted serious administrative shortcomings, primarily due to insufficient resources to carry out checks when registering with municipal registers. Criminal networks allegedly exploited these gaps by providing false Luxembourg addresses in exchange for payment. These fraudulent registrations were accompanied by fictitious work contracts, false certificates of completion of studies and counterfeit language diplomas.
More than 200 foreign nationals allegedly entered Luxembourg on the basis of these forged documents. Once registered, they unlawfully received state social benefits. The total amount of financial damage remains undetermined.
A particularly concerning aspect is that the alleged fraud continues without interruption. Due to data protection regulations, the prosecutor's office cannot communicate the identity of the suspects to social security bodies or other competent authorities in order to end payments.
"The prosecutor's office deeply regrets the absence of a legal basis enabling it to transmit this information to the authorities concerned so that they can put an end to the social fraud that has been uncovered," the statement indicates.
The operation mobilised three investigating judges, two prosecutors and more than sixty officers from the unit responsible for economic and financial crime. The searches took place in Luxembourg City as well as in the central, southern and northern regions of the country. Since 2023, the authorities have already carried out 27 searches in public administrations and social security bodies.
The Ministry of the Interior indicated that the General Directorate of Immigration is cooperating fully with the judicial authorities. Minister Léon Gloden ordered an internal audit of the immigration service "given the seriousness of the alleged facts". The ministry committed itself to taking all necessary measures and reaffirmed its determination to combat all forms of fraud.
Furthermore, the Ministry of Higher Education and Research clarified that no member of its staff had been charged. Investigators seized two files containing evidence of forged diplomas submitted as part of requests within its remit. The ministry stressed its zero-tolerance policy towards document forgery.
Source: Luxembourg Times
Source: Luxembourg Times