KUALA LUMPUR: The Immigration Department crippled a travel document forgery syndicate operating in Malaysia for about a year, in a special operation in Jalan Alor here yesterday.
Two Bangladeshis and an Indian national, believed to be the masterminds of the syndicate, were arrested in the 2pm raid.
Immigration Department director-general Datuk Ruslin Jusoh said acting on a tip-off, the surveillance team carried two weeks' surveillance of the suspects before conducting the operation.
He said one of those arrested is also believed to be the mastermind of a syndicate producing fake temporary employment visit passes, fake passports and Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) card duplications for foreigners who overstay.
"Officers from the Intelligence and Special Operations Division, Putrajaya, assisted by the Special Tactical Team, apprehended an Indian national and two Bangladeshis, aged between 28 and 31, suspected to be the masterminds of the syndicate.
"Checks showed the detainees did not have valid passports to be in the country."
Ruslin said officers also seized copies of Indian and Pakistani passports, 26 fake temporary employment visit passes, two suspected fake CIDB cards, two laptops and a printer.
"The modus operandi of the syndicate is to target foreigners from Bangladesh, India and Pakistan who have issues with identification and visa documentation in Malaysia.
"Suspects would approach those facing documentation problems and offer fake passports, temporary employment visit passes and CIDB cards. They would charge RM1,000 for each passport, and RM500 for a temporary employment visit pass and CIDB card."
The foreigners, detained for offences under the Immigration Act 1959/63, Passport Act 1966, Immigration Regulations 1963 and the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act 2007, are held at the Putrajaya Immigration Depot for further investigation.
