JOHOR BARU: A 47-year-old woman believed to be a central figure in a fake passport syndicate has been detained by the Immigration Department.
Johor Immigration director Baharuddin Tahir said the local woman was detained at a parking lot in Taman Nusa Bestari about 6pm on Monday (Dec 4) following two weeks of observation.
“She was in a white car with a 34-year-old Chinese national during the raid. The woman was believed to be the main person involved in producing fake China passports,” he said in a statement on Tuesday (Dec 5).
Baharuddin added that five Chinese passports were also found in the car, along with stacks of cash amounting to RM12,100.
Both suspects were detained under Section 6(1)(c) and Section 12(1)(f) of the Passports Act 1966 or Act 150 for being in possession of passports belonging to others, without a valid reason.
“It is a serious offence to make a profit by falsifying such documents and stern action will be taken against those who do so. This goes to those who help in the smuggling of migrants,” he added.
