Visa trafficking at Spanish Consulate in Algiers: 120 million DZD invested in real estate

Investigations by Spanish police into the visa trafficking scheme at the Spanish Consulate in Algiers have uncovered that illicit profits were used to purchase six properties in Algiers, totaling 120 million Algerian dinars. The scandal, which emerged in April 2026, involves the consulate's former deputy head, Vicente Moreno, his wife Amina Nessrine Beljoudi, local staff members, and the service provider TLS Contact. Suspects allegedly facilitated the illegal issuance of visas and residency permits, charging up to 25,000 euros per family. According to investigators, these real estate acquisitions took place between 2016 and 2021, indicating that the network may have been operating for a decade. The accused also reportedly own assets in Portugal. The group is charged with enabling Algerian nationals to enter the Schengen area without meeting the required criteria through organized fraud.