Spanish investigators are examining whether visa appointment and document-processing companies helped a network prioritise applicants who paid bribes.
Judicial sources said the network allegedly charged applicants up to €25,000 per family to secure visas and residence or work permits, including for people who did not meet the formal requirements.
The investigation began following “official communications” from the Spanish Embassy in Algeria, which alerted authorities to a network allegedly “profiting through the fraudulent issuance of Schengen visas”.
BLS was awarded a €175 million Spanish Foreign Ministry contract in 2016 to manage visa appointments and document processing at certain consulates. The probe, led by Judge María Tardón, was expanded to examine the role of companies handling visa appointments and document processing, including BLS, which is contracted by Spain’s Foreign Ministry, as reported by Spanish news outlet The Objective. The judge is investigating five reported offences: money laundering, crimes against the rights of foreign citizens, repeated document falsification by a public official, influence peddling and membership in a criminal organisation.
The court has specifically referred to “processing platforms like BLS” as part of its investigation into collaborating companies. Indian company BLS International has been drawn into a Spanish National Court investigation with links to alleged visa fraud network at Spain’s consulate in Algiers. The allegations have been denied by the firm. The case initially led to the arrests of consulate chancellor Vicente Moreno and local employee Mohamed Boutouchent in April. Moreno’s wife was also placed under investigation. Investigators also claim that cash bribes were later laundered in Spain, including through vehicle purchases. The investigation is also examining whether such service providers helped create or process applications for applicants who paid the alleged bribes, while legitimate applicants were denied or bypassed.
The company had taken over work previously handled by another Indian firm, VFS Global.