Bogotá. – Colombian immigration authorities detected more than
850 Dominican citizens who attempted to obtain
false Colombian
identities to enter European countries without a visa, using official documents issued with altered or fictitious information.
According to an investigation released by Noticias RCN, criminal networks dedicated to document fraud have managed to infiltrate the official processes of document issuance, allowing foreigners to obtain authentic Colombian identity cards and passports, but based on false data.
The main objective of this scheme is to take advantage of the migratory benefits of the Colombian passport, which allows access to several European nations without a visa, a benefit that Dominican citizens do not have.
Migration Colombia reported that since 2021, 965 cases of fraudulent identity acquisition have been identified, of which more than 850 involve Dominicans.
The most recent case occurred at El Dorado airport in Bogotá, where two Dominicans were deported after attempting to travel with falsified Spanish residency permits. Although they had entered Colombia as tourists, inconsistencies in their statements and itineraries raised suspicions among immigration agents.
The authorities explained that the controls include detailed interviews to assess the accent, knowledge of Colombian geography and national symbols, as well as the coherence of the information provided by travelers.
The director of Migración Colombia, Gloria Esperanza Arriero López, stated that many foreigners try to take advantage of the visa exemption that Colombia has with Europe.
During the last year, about 180 cases were detected at airports and immigration points in the country, which shows the continuity of these fraudulent operations.
The investigations are currently focused on identifying and dismantling the networks responsible for the scheme, including possible links within institutions responsible for issuing official documents.
Colombian authorities stated that they will continue to reinforce controls to prevent the country from being used as a platform for irregular migration to Europe and to preserve the credibility of its migration system.
