Morocco Investigates Spanish Consulate Employees for Visa Fraud

Four employees of the Spanish Consulate General in Nador are currently under investigation by Moroccan authorities for allegedly using their position to facilitate the issuing of visas in exchange for monetary compensation.

Rabat – Four employees of the Spanish Consulate General in Nador are currently under investigation by Moroccan authorities for allegedly using their position to facilitate the issuing of visas in exchange for monetary compensation.

The scandal involves the facilitation of Schengen visas through the provision of falsified documents, SchengenVisaInfo.com reported.

The investigation was opened following a request from Jose Manuel Albares, Spain’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, who called for the uncovering of what has been dubbed the “visa mafia.”

The case involves allegations that consulate employees, including a close associate of Consul Jose Leandro Consarnau Guardiola, have been involved in the issuance of visas through illicit means.

According to Spanish media outlet El Espanol, suspicions center on a Moroccan national hired in 2021 who is said to have leveraged his position to help numerous acquaintances in acquiring Spanish Schengen Visas in exchange for monetary compensation.

Reports suggest that a significant portion of applicants from the suspect’s neighborhood obtained visas through this arrangement, with fees likely reaching around €8,000 per application.

The investigation extends beyond the initial four suspects, as it includes additional individuals within the consulate. A senior consulate employee, who was head of the visa department, and another consulate staff member are also implicated in the allegations.

Suspects are thought to be implicated in systematically fabricating a range of documents, from bank statements to proof of accommodations to satisfy Schengen visa requirements.

Reports indicate that some applicants were asked to pay large sums, up to €15,000, in exchange for assistance throughout the visa application process. Moroccan intelligence agencies have inquired about the potential involvement of Spanish authorities.

This is not the first time consulate employees have been suspected of being involved in visa fraud. Similar investigations involving forged visas surfaced in June, implicating individuals working with the Spanish Consulate General in Tangier.