Italy breaks up network that illegally obtained citizenship for Brazilians

The Italian police uncovered an international network that was illegally obtaining Italian citizenship for individuals from Brazil. This network used methods such as falsifying documents and accepting large sums of money in exchange for citizenship. Authorities in Frosinone, in the central region of Lazio, reported an employee of the local Civil Registry and owner of an international intermediation agency to the Public Prosecutor’s Office, accusing them of complicity in allowing numerous Brazilian citizens to stay in Italy illegally.

The accused individual faces charges including violating the law granting Italian citizenship, ideological falsehood in public documents, omission of official documents, abuse of power, and failure to collect consular fees totaling at least 51 thousand euros. The network, which has been operating since 2017, facilitated the illegal stay of 179 foreign citizens in Italy.

This network was designed to fast-track the citizenship process for foreign nationals by bypassing necessary certifications and documentary controls. In return for large payments, beneficiaries were able to quickly obtain Italian citizenship ‘jure sanguinis’. The dismantled network was connected to an international organization operating between Brazil, Germany, and Italy, which profited from these illegal operations.

According to Italian police, this organization earned over 700 thousand euros illicitly in a three-year period. The police operation began following a tip from the Italian embassy in the UK, involving extensive surveillance, witness testimonies, and document analysis. The investigation revealed the organization’s significant profits and its connections to an international network.