The operation, coordinated with the Portuguese Judicial Police, Europol, and Eurojust, has led to the dismantling of a network that recruited individuals primarily from Colombia and Peru, offering them false job opportunities as welders in Portugal. Those affected paid up to 300 euros for procedures that often did not materialize, leaving them without Social Security coverage and working in precarious conditions, which led to several workplace accidents.

The investigation began in May 2025, when Portuguese companies offering jobs for skilled welders in Spain were detected. The organization, mainly composed of Brazilian citizens, operated between Spain and Portugal. Workers were transferred to Spain with the promise of employment, although they were registered with the Portuguese Social Security.

To simulate legality, the network created a company in Sabadell with the same name as a Portuguese commercial entity. Through this company, they subcontracted services to Spanish metallurgical sector companies, using false documentation such as displacement certificates, Portuguese Social Security registrations, residence cards, and training courses.

Investigations revealed that the companies systematically violated labor regulations and failed to provide personal protective equipment, leading to accidents. It is estimated that over a thousand people were hired under these conditions, leaving them unprotected. The operation culminated in February 2026 with the participation of over a hundred agents in Spain and Portugal.

As a result, six searches were carried out, three in Spain, and five people were arrested in the province of Barcelona, two of whom are in provisional prison. Three vehicles, false documentation, and multiple bank accounts were seized. The leader of the organization, who directed the criminal activity from the United Arab Emirates, was arrested through an international Interpol warrant.