JOHOR BARU: The Immigration Department has crippled a fake passport syndicate following the arrest of three men and seizure of 146 fake passports from various countries.
State Immigration Department director Datuk Seri Rohaizi Bahari said the operation was carried out following a tip-off from the public and reported cases of fake immigration stamps on March 23.
He said the department's enforcement unit has arrested a 21-year-old man during a raid at a hotel at Jalan Dato Abdullah Tahir.
"Prior to the arrest, our men were on a stakeout for two weeks before moving in to apprehend the man. A total of 146 fake passports were also confiscated in the 2am operation.
"Out of the total, 114 were fake Vietnam passports, Indonesia (nine), Thailand (seven), Cambodia (seven), China (six) and a passport each from Laos, Taiwan and Mongolia. The team also found two forged Immigration Department rubber stamps," he told a press conference on Sunday.
Rohaizi said following the first arrest, the team then arrested two men, aged 27 and 26, in the city centre and Larkin at 4.30am, and 8.20am, respectively.
He said the trio will be remanded for four days beginning Sunday to facilitate investigation under Section 56 (1A)(c) 1(A) of the Immigration Act 1959/1963 for conspiring in the syndicate.
He said the case was also being investigated under Section 12(1)(f) of the Passports Act 1966 for unlawful possession of another person’s passport.
He said the offence carries a maximum penalty of RM10,000 fine and five-year imprisonment, if convicted.
"Preliminary investigation revealed that most of the passports belonged to women. Based on this finding, the investigation will also look into the possibility of the trio being involved in human trafficking.
"We also learned that the true passport owners are located abroad. We will contact them to assist with the investigation," he said.