The Policía Nacional on 2 October 2026 in Melilla arrested a Moroccan national on suspicion of document forgery . According to the authorities, the man tried to register in the municipal population register using a tenancy agreement in the city’s population register (Empadronamiento) whose details did not match when checked.
Investigators from the UCRIF, the Policía Nacional unit specialising in immigration offences and document forgery, found that the contract presented bore signs of forgery. Police statements said the details in the document did not match the ownership records or the people concerned, giving rise to suspicion that the rental contract was fictitious. The man was arrested after being identified; the case was referred to the competent court in Melilla.
Registration in the municipal population register is handled by the Ayuntamiento de Melilla. To confirm residency, the city requires documents such as a rental contract, proof of ownership or a certificate from the person providing the accommodation. According to the authorities, details are cross-checked on a sample basis against available registers before registration. If forgery is suspected, the administration informs the police and refuses registration; the Policía Nacional simultaneously launches an investigation. In addition to criminal charges of document forgery under the Código Penal unlawful entries may also be removed from the register as an administrative consequence.
Police stressed that the investigation is ongoing. Further details about any possible charges or court measures were not initially available. According to reports, investigators recorded claims that the purported landlord named in the contract had denied allowing his details to be used.
The incident is one of a series of cases in Melilla in which the authorities have repeatedly uncovered suspected forged rental contracts and unlawful registrations in recent months and years. Police believe such forgeries are often used to obtain residence-related or social security benefits. The city of Melilla and the Policía Nacional have long pointed to increased checks on documents required for registration, in order to prevent fake addresses and false residency claims. UCRIF investigators said they would look into the origin of the suspected forgery and any possible accomplices. The presumption of innocence applies until the investigation is concluded.
Editor: Mira Cadena (Article created with AI assistance).