Italian authorities arrest woman for orchestrating illegal citizenship scheme

Police have arrested a 40-year-old Brazilian woman in Ferrara for allegedly organizing a criminal network that facilitated the illegal acquisition of Italian citizenship for Brazilian nationals between 2022 and 2024.

Investigators from Torre del Greco and Ferrara report that the group used fraudulent residency certifications and false documentation to bypass legal requirements for 'jure sanguinis' citizenship. More than 70 Brazilian citizens reportedly obtained citizenship through this scheme, with processes sometimes completed in less than two months.

The operation allegedly involved the complicity of at least three public officials working at the Municipality of Torre del Greco. Participants reportedly charged clients a minimum of 5,000 euros per application, with the proceeds distributed among the group members. The suspects face charges of criminal conspiracy, corruption, and ideological falsification of public documents.