The National Police, through the Provincial Brigade of Foreigners and Borders of Las Palmas (UCRIF-I), together with the Provincial Inspection of Labor and Social Security of Las Palmas, has culminated the "Operation Bordillo," a joint operation that has dismantled a criminal network dedicated to the exploitation of foreign workers in the construction sector on the island of Lanzarote.
As a result of the investigation, 16 people were arrested, including two businessmen from the construction sector and 14 foreign workers who were allegedly working illegally by impersonating others.
The operation began in mid-October, when the ITSS became aware that a construction company in Lanzarote might be employing foreign citizens without residence or work permits, passing them off as other individuals registered with Social Security.
The investigation carried out by a joint group, made up of National Police agents and ITSS officials, revealed that the investigated company provided subcontractor companies with lists containing the data of legally hired employees, although it later sent irregular workers to the construction sites, whom it forced to memorize the personal data of the former.
In this way, the construction company located on the island of Lanzarote kept various employees active with the same identity on different construction sites, evading Social Security payments and obtaining illicit economic benefit at the expense of the workers' vulnerability
On November 4, agents from the Provincial Brigade of Foreigners and Borders, with the support of the Local Police Station of Arrecife and the Provincial Inspection of Labor and Social Security of Las Palmas, carried out simultaneous inspections at five large-scale construction sites located in the municipalities of Arrecife, Yaiza, San Bartolomé, and Teguise.
During the operation, fourteen workers were identified who provided personal details belonging to other people, having been instructed by the company to do so. In several cases, those involved did not correctly remember surnames, NIE numbers, or the names of the supposed parents, evidencing the falsity of their identity.
All of them were arrested for impersonation, while the two company executives were arrested for impersonation, document forgery, and offenses against workers' rights
The 14 detained workers are foreign citizens, of whom twelve lack residency permits and all lack work permits in Spain.
The investigation remains open, with the corresponding file being processed by the ITSS and the continuation of police inquiries to clarify all the facts and possible additional responsibilities