New Delhi, Dec 24 (IANS) Five people, including a Spaniard, have been arrested for allegedly sending unemployed youth from Punjab to European countries on fake documents but genuine visas obtained with the help of a Spanish diplomat here, police said Thursday.
The Special Operations Squad (SOS) of the Crime Branch Wednesday arrested Anand Malkani (31), Amar Pal Singh (28), Satish Rattu (36) and Maxon Tito (47) and their Spanish accomplice Gerardo Morante Mendez (36) for illegally sending people to Spain and other European countries on Schengen visas obtained through fraudulent means.

They were arrested from south Delhi’s Lajapt Nagar area. Two laptops, 12 passports, a visa sticker, a Santro car and other incriminating material were recovered from them, police said.

“Mendez has contacts with a diplomat in the Spanish Embassy. Through this diplomat, he managed to get genuine visas on the basis of forged supportive documents,” Additional Commissioner of Police (Crime Branch) Neeraj Thakur said.

“The gang used to charge Rs.800,000 to Rs. 10,00,000 from their clients and the money was distributed amongst the accused persons and their agents. They used to target people wanted to go abroad but did not have required documents,” he added.

Thakur said police have informed the concerned agencies about the alleged involvement of the Spanish diplomat.

“We can not reveal his name and do not want to say any thing about the individual,” he added.