Seven arrested in immigration stamp forgery syndicate targeting Vietnamese, Indonesian and Thai nationals with fake endorsements costing RM2,500-RM3,000
PUTRAJAYA: Immigration authorities have dismantled a syndicate producing counterfeit immigration security stamps, arresting seven individuals including three foreigners.
The arrests occurred yesterday during Ops Serkap following intelligence gathering and surveillance operations.
Immigration director-general Datuk Zakaria Shaaban identified the suspects as three Malaysian men, one Malaysian woman, and three Vietnamese women aged 20 to 35.
Intelligence revealed two male suspects boarded a bus from Larkin Bus Terminal in Johor Bahru around midnight heading to Terminal Bersepadu Selatan in Kuala Lumpur.
Officers tracked the suspects’ movements near TBS before following them to a residential area in Seri Kembangan, Selangor.
Authorities arrested the group upon arrival at what is believed to be their hideout.
A search of the premises uncovered eight Vietnamese passports and two suspected fake immigration security stamps.
Zakaria stated the syndicate had been operating for approximately two years, targeting Vietnamese, Indonesian and Thai nationals seeking to extend their stay in Malaysia.
“These individuals would use the syndicate service to obtain immigration endorsements, unaware that the endorsements were fake,” he said.
Preliminary investigations revealed each transaction cost between RM2,500 and RM3,000 per document.
All suspects are being investigated under the Immigration Act 1959/63 and the Passport Act 1966.
The foreign nationals were taken to the Putrajaya Immigration Depot for further action. – Bernama
