Spain Investigates Alleged Schengen Visa Fraud at Moroccan Consulate

According to these testimonies, obtaining these visas would cost up to 15,000 euros. However, diplomatic sources told the newspaper EL Español that this ongoing investigation does not directly concern the trafficking of visas.

Several local media have reported for several days a possible case of buying and selling Schengen visas involving the Nador consulate and intermediaries demanding between 10,000 and 15,000 euros per visa. According to these reports, the consulate would accept visa applications through these intermediaries, without the required legal criteria being met.

This situation in Nador echoes a similar case that occurred at the Tangier consulate, revealed by the same newspaper last June. This case resulted in the arrest of two people and the dismissal of a consular employee. Irregularities in Tangier had already been reported by a police officer in 2012, leading to the opening of an investigation by the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Moreover, in Nador, the authorities arrested the owner of a pharmacy near the Spanish consulate last year, after the discovery of documents related to Spanish visas during a search. This person was sentenced to one year in prison. In addition, the Moroccan judicial police arrested eight individuals suspected of being linked to this fraud in the cities of Oujda, Berkane and Nador, suspected of collaborating with criminal networks facilitating irregular immigration to Europe.

Similar practices have also been reported at the Nador consulate, but internal discussions have helped to ease tensions on site without disclosing further information on these alleged behaviors.