Granada police investigate every year around 30 suspected marriages of convenience. This figure is down from two years ago when it shot up, in spite of the crisis.

Investigators say it is quite difficult to detect these ‘fake’ marriages, which involve a European citizen and a desperate foreigner, the latter paying the former a considerable sum for the European to say, “I do.”

Those involved tend to avoid discovery by knowing how to respond to police questions. If discovered, it is considered fraud and penalties include possible jailtime. Wasn’t it Prince Phillip who called the institution of marriage ‘prostitution?’