Spanish Court Probes Visa Scandal Involving Indian Company BLS

Spain's National Court has expanded its investigation into an alleged visa fraud network at the Spanish Consulate in Algiers, which involves BLS, an Indian company hired to manage visa appointments and document processing. The investigation began after the arrests of Vicente Moreno, the consulate's chancellor and second-in-command, and local employee Mohamed Boutouchent.

The case started when officials alerted authorities to a network allegedly profiting from the fraudulent issuance of Schengen visas, enabling applicants to enter Spain legally. Applicants allegedly paid members of the group to arrange procedures using unverified, altered or falsified documents, with each family paying up to €25,000.

The court is examining the alleged involvement of companies providing administrative services, including appointment scheduling and document management, such as BLS. The company was awarded a contract in 2016 to manage visa appointments and document processing at selected Spanish consulates around the world, valued at €175 million.