Spain probes Schengen visa trafficking at its consulate in Algeria

Spanish investigators looking into alleged trafficking of Schengen visas at the Consulate General of Spain in Algeria have obtained new details, including a confession from the consul's secretary about moving money to Algeria and records showing property holdings linked to a former consular official.

The secretary admitted before the judiciary to sending a total of €34,813 to Algeria between the start of 2022 and March 2026, to be converted into Algerian dinars on the parallel market with the help of a partner.

Key facts

• Amount transferred to Algeria: €34,813, described as about 35 thousand euros
• Period covered: early 2022 to March 2026
• Judge in charge: Maria Tardon, at Spain's National Court
• At least six properties in Algiers linked to a former consular official's wife, bought between 2016 and 2021
• Value of those properties: about 120 million Algerian dinars, equal to €783,919

What is the case about?

Spanish inquiries centre on the alleged trafficking of Schengen visas through Spain's consulate in Algeria. The consul's secretary gave statements to Judge Maria Tardon, who is handling the case at the Spanish National Court, according to the Spanish newspaper The Objective.

How was the money reportedly moved?

The funds reached the secretary through bank transfers from other people, were withdrawn in cash from ATMs in Spain and then carried to Algeria on frequent trips, the newspaper reported. The secretary exchanged the money on the parallel market with a partner and handed the value in Algerian dinars back to its owners.

Trips to Spain were made once or twice a month, with the amount carried kept below a set level on each journey to avoid attracting suspicion. Investigators also suspect cash was brought into Spain as part of the same operations, and have examined the pair's financial movements and travel.

What have investigators found on property?

The Economic and Financial Crimes Unit of Spain's National Police (UDEF) found that the wife of a former consular official owns at least six properties in Algiers, purchased between 2016 and 2021. Their combined value was put at about 120 million Algerian dinars, or €783,919, based on documents obtained by investigators.

The case concerns the wife of Vicente Moreno, a former consular adviser who was second-in-command at the Spanish consulate in Algeria and was responsible for the visa department. The police report also raised the possibility that the couple owns properties in Portugal, the newspaper said.

What links have been raised to a visa application company?

Investigators' findings submitted to Judge Maria Tardon included information about a previous relationship between the official's wife and the company "BLS", which receives visa applications and books appointments. Investigators suspect she provided services to that company while her husband was in charge of the visa department in Algeria in 2007.

What this means for travellers

The source describes an ongoing judicial investigation and does not announce any change to Schengen visa rules, fees, application steps or processing times for travellers in Algeria. Nothing in the material indicates that visa applicants need to take any new action.

The investigation remains before Judge Maria Tardon at Spain's National Court; no further dates or decisions are given in the source.