GEORGE TOWN: The Immigration Department detained nine people over their alleged involvement in a fake passport syndicate, in Jelutong here last night.
Immigration Department director-general Datuk Seri Mustafar Ali said the nine, two of whom were children, were detained inside an apartment, believed to be used as the syndicate’s operation centre.
He said investigations showed one of the Bangladeshi men nabbed was the syndicate’s mastermind involved in falsifying the documents.
The man had acted as an agent.
“Further checks at the premises led us to the recovery of 94 fake Bangladeshi passports and RM15,000 cash.
“We believe the fake passports were to be sold to employers.
“We also believe that the employers had engaged the services of the agent to make things easy for their employees,” he told newsmen here.
Mustafar said the syndicate had been active for a long time and that further investigation would determine if more people were involved.
“We understand that the agent has been staying here for 20 years and is married to an Indonesian woman.
“We will not compromise ob this matter and will ensure that stern action is taken against all those involved,” he added.