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Colombia dismantles transnational migrant trafficking and identity fraud network
Authorities in Colombia, supported by agencies from Spain and the United States, have dismantled a transnational criminal organization known as ‘Apócrifo’. The group was allegedly involved in migrant trafficking and the fraudulent acquisition of Colombian identities.
Simultaneous operations in Bogotá, Barranquilla, and Neiva resulted in the arrest of 15 individuals. Among those detained are three public officials from the Registraduría Nacional del Estado Civil and one official from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The investigation suggests the network facilitated the fraudulent issuance of birth certificates, national IDs, and passports.
The organization reportedly targeted citizens from the Dominican Republic and Venezuela, offering service packages ranging from $2,000 to $5,000. These packages included the management of documents, as well as accommodation and transportation, to enable migrants to travel to Spain and other Schengen Area countries without visas.
As a result of the investigation, the Registraduría has canceled 43 citizenship IDs that were obtained through these irregular procedures. Authorities have identified at least 40 cases involving Dominican citizens who initiated fraudulent processes in Colombia.
Entities
Colombia · Dominican Republic · Fiscalía General de la Nación · Hernán Penagos · Registraduría Nacional del Estado Civil
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 7 SOURCES] The Registraduría canceled 43 citizenship IDs obtained through irregular procedures. colmundoradio.com.co · okdiario.com · diariodelnorte.net · noticiasya.co · www.diariodelsur.com.co · +1 more
- [● 3 SOURCES] Authorities identified 40 cases of Dominicans who began fraudulent procedures in Colombia. okdiario.com · diariodelnorte.net · www.cablenoticias.com
- [● 9 SOURCES] A transnational criminal network was dismantled for migrant trafficking and fraudulent identity acquisition. colmundoradio.com.co · okdiario.com · diariodelnorte.net · www.cablenoticias.com · noticiasya.co · +3 more
- [● 9 SOURCES] Three officials from the Registraduría Nacional del Estado Civil were among those captured. colmundoradio.com.co · okdiario.com · diariodelnorte.net · www.cablenoticias.com · noticiasya.co · +3 more
- [● 9 SOURCES] Fifteen people were arrested in simultaneous operations in Bogotá, Barranquilla, and Neiva. colmundoradio.com.co · okdiario.com · diariodelnorte.net · www.cablenoticias.com · noticiasya.co · +3 more
- [● 5 SOURCES] The network sold Colombian passports to Dominican citizens for $2,000 to $5,000 to facilitate entry into Spain and the Schengen Area. okdiario.com · www.cablenoticias.com · diariodelhuila.com · www.elespectador.com · diariodelnorte.net