5, including Bangladeshi, held in Italy for ‘illegal immigration’ scheme

Five individuals, including one Bangladeshi national, have been arrested in Italy in a special operation targeting illegal immigration.

The country's Guardia di Finanza (Financial Guard) conducted the operation in Grosseto, Tuscany, under the direction of the Siena Prefecture.

Local media outlets, including La Repubblica, reported the incident, though the authorities have withheld the identities of the arrested individuals in line with judicial regulations.

According to investigation sources, the Bangladeshi suspect had recently purchased a shop in Grosseto for €52,000 in cash, raising suspicions.

Upon further investigation, it was revealed that he led a criminal network that had been submitting “fake documents” to the Italian Ministry of the Interior’s “Decreto Flussi” platform for an extended period.

The network allegedly helped nearly 200 Bangladeshis enter Italy by using counterfeit employers and fictitious company names and addresses.

According to the investigation, many of the individuals whose names were used as employers were unaware of the fraud. The syndicate charged clients between €2,000 and €4,000 for each application, collecting the money both in Bangladesh and Italy. In some cases, families were forced to mortgage land to pay the required amounts.

Authorities reported that a significant sum of money was illicitly obtained in the Siena and Grosseto areas through this scheme. The court has classified the case as “auto-money laundering”, meaning that the funds gained through criminal activity were used to acquire legitimate assets. As a result, the shop purchased with the illegal funds has been seized.

When contacted, Ashif Anam Siddique, first secretary at the Bangladesh Embassy in Rome, said they had not been formally informed of the incident yet but would take further steps after contacting local authorities.

The Financial Guard emphasised that this operation is not only about controlling illegal immigration but also about protecting Italy's economy. If illicit capital enters legitimate businesses, it harms honest entrepreneurs and distorts fair competition. The investigation is still in its preliminary stages, and the arrested individuals are considered innocent until proven guilty in court.