A court in Pescara began hearings on 24 January in a criminal case that shines a spotlight on Italy’s persistent black-market for immigration documents. Prosecutors allege that two local businessmen, Giovanni Guida and Antonio Andreacola, produced and sold 22 counterfeit residence permits to Bangladeshi nationals for a total of €65,000, promising legal entry via the 2022 ‘decreto flussi.’ (ilcentro.it)
According to the indictment, undercover labour-police officers recorded the suspects arranging the hand-over of forged plastic cards that mimicked the official ‘permesso di soggiorno.’ The sting culminated in a July 2023 raid in which officers seized €18,000 in cash and arrested the pair. A third defendant is charged with fabricating the documents. If convicted of aggravated fraud and facilitating illegal immigration, the accused face up to ten years in prison and heavy fines under Italy’s Immigration Act.
The case is a reminder to employers of the compliance risks that surround seasonal-worker quotas and the upcoming 2026 click-day rush. Criminal networks continue to exploit lengthy processing times by selling bogus permits that can surface in workforce audits. Companies sponsoring non-EU staff should reinforce document-verification procedures—checking the QR code and microprint features of each card and cross-referencing numbers on the Interior Ministry portal.
![Trial opens in Pescara over €65,000 fake-permit racket targeting Bangladeshis]()
For employers and foreign nationals who want to make sure every document is legitimate and complete, VisaHQ offers step-by-step assistance with Italian visa and residence-permit applications. Their dedicated portal (https://www.visahq.com/italy/) provides up-to-date requirements, secure document handling, and real-time tracking, helping HR teams and travelers avoid costly mistakes and steer clear of fraudulent intermediaries.
The prosecution also underscores the government’s intention to tighten digital security features as Italy transitions to biometric e-permits and to the EU’s Entry/Exit System. HR and mobility managers should anticipate greater scrutiny of residence documents during workplace inspections and be prepared to prove that copies held on file were verified through official channels.
The next hearing is scheduled for 12 March. Industry bodies have urged the Ministry of the Interior to publish real-time statistics on permit issuance during the 2026-28 quota cycle to reduce opportunities for fraud.
According to the indictment, undercover labour-police officers recorded the suspects arranging the hand-over of forged plastic cards that mimicked the official ‘permesso di soggiorno.’ The sting culminated in a July 2023 raid in which officers seized €18,000 in cash and arrested the pair. A third defendant is charged with fabricating the documents. If convicted of aggravated fraud and facilitating illegal immigration, the accused face up to ten years in prison and heavy fines under Italy’s Immigration Act.
The case is a reminder to employers of the compliance risks that surround seasonal-worker quotas and the upcoming 2026 click-day rush. Criminal networks continue to exploit lengthy processing times by selling bogus permits that can surface in workforce audits. Companies sponsoring non-EU staff should reinforce document-verification procedures—checking the QR code and microprint features of each card and cross-referencing numbers on the Interior Ministry portal.
For employers and foreign nationals who want to make sure every document is legitimate and complete, VisaHQ offers step-by-step assistance with Italian visa and residence-permit applications. Their dedicated portal (https://www.visahq.com/italy/) provides up-to-date requirements, secure document handling, and real-time tracking, helping HR teams and travelers avoid costly mistakes and steer clear of fraudulent intermediaries.
The prosecution also underscores the government’s intention to tighten digital security features as Italy transitions to biometric e-permits and to the EU’s Entry/Exit System. HR and mobility managers should anticipate greater scrutiny of residence documents during workplace inspections and be prepared to prove that copies held on file were verified through official channels.
The next hearing is scheduled for 12 March. Industry bodies have urged the Ministry of the Interior to publish real-time statistics on permit issuance during the 2026-28 quota cycle to reduce opportunities for fraud.
