National Police in Almeria have arrested 18 people in connection with the sale of fake work contracts and other documents to illegal immigrants.
Immigrants paid between between €500 and €700 for the contracts which, they hoped, would get them legal status in Spain.
An investigation began in February after several immigrants complained about the scam. Police discovered that the network was using a total of 32 companies to process work contracts, social security etc. Some of the companies were merely fronts with no real activity, others were legitimate companies whose managers were unaware that they were being used to issue employment contracts.
The whole operation centred around the town of Roquetas de Mar, Almeria.