Foreign citizen arrested in Porto for forging hundreds of rental contracts
The Judicial Police arrested a 38-year-old man in Porto for aiding illegal immigration and document falsification. The suspect manufactured fake contracts to legalise foreign nationals with the AIMA.
Arrested in Porto for forging rental contracts for illegal immigrants
The Judicial Police arrested a 38-year-old foreign citizen resident in Portugal on 27 June, on suspicion of aiding illegal immigration, document falsification and money laundering. The operation was conducted by the Northern Directorate, as reported by Google News PT — Crime (pt).
The suspect produced hundreds of fraudulent rental contracts with the aim of facilitating the legalisation processes of foreign nationals with the Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum (AIMA). Proof of accommodation is one of the mandatory documents required to obtain residence authorisation in national territory.
During the investigation, the authorities established that there had been a mass influx of residence certificate requests at various civil parish offices in the Porto metropolitan area, submitted by citizens of third countries. The documents falsely attested that the applicants resided at the addresses indicated, and were subsequently submitted to the AIMA.
The rental contracts were signed by the defendant and the company of which he was the owner.
The investigation began in February 2025, after the authorities identified the systematic violation of immigration laws. The seriousness of the facts and the seizures made led to the issuance of a detention warrant by the judicial authority, executed last Saturday in the city of Porto.
The detainee will be brought before a judge for his initial hearing for the application of the precautionary measures deemed appropriate. The inquiry is being handled by the Public Investigation and Criminal Action Department (DIAP) of Porto.
Source: Google News PT — Crime (pt)