Spanish consulate staff invested 120 million DA in Algerian real estate
Investigators found six properties in Algiers linked to an illegal visa trafficking scheme operating for over a decade.
Spanish investigators have uncovered that part of the money from an illegal visa trafficking scheme at the Spanish Consulate in Algiers was invested in real estate. Six properties in Algiers, acquired between 2016 and 2021, were linked to the operation. The total value of these acquisitions amounts to 120 million Algerian dinars, approximately 783,919 euros.
The scheme involved the illegal issuance of visas, residency permits, and work authorizations for sums up to 25,000 euros per family. The investigation began in April 2026 with the arrest of Vicente Moreno, the consulate's deputy head, and a local employee. Moreno's Algerian wife was also investigated, and reports suggest the couple also owns property in Portugal.
The illegal activities are believed to have been ongoing for at least 10 years, facilitating the entry of Algerians into the Schengen area who did not meet the required conditions. The case was initiated following a report from the Spanish Ministry of the Interior concerning visa trafficking.
Why it mattersAlgerian citizens seeking to enter the Schengen area were affected by a visa trafficking scheme that involved illegal payments and property investment.