JOHOR BARU: A 47-year-old woman, believed to be a key figure in a fake passport syndicate here, has been detained along with her middleman.
Johor Immigration director Baharuddin Tahir said the woman has been charging RM400 to RM500 for a fake passport.
“She has supplied fake China passports for the past two months.
“Following two weeks of observation, we caught her in a car at a parking lot in Taman Nusa Bestari on Monday,” he said yesterday.
“A 34-year-old man from China believed to be her middleman who helped in her dealings, was also in the car with her.
Police believe the woman was the main person behind the syndicate.
In the raid, five Chinese passports with a stack of cash amounting to RM12,100 and a bag were found inside the car.
Both have been held for 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 actions will be taken against those who do so.
“This also goes to those who help smuggle migrants,” added Baharuddin.
