ALOR SETAR: A syndicate believed to be issuing fake work permits and United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) cards has been crippled.
Kedah police chief Datuk Adzli Abu Shah said several raids around Kulim were carried out by the Criminal Investigation Department last month, with 24 people arrested. The suspects, aged between 20 and 52, are 19 Bangladeshi men, three Rohingya men, one Rohingya woman and a local woman.
“The raids were carried out at four locations including a retail shop, a computer shop and a house used as temporary accommodation for foreigners.
“Investigations found that the syndicate was run by a Bangladeshi national who has complete travel documents and is married to a 69-year-old local woman.
“The main suspect is also believed to have a G7-class construction company and a retail shop using his wife’s name to qualify foreign worker applications to be made legally,” he told a press conference yesterday, Bernama reported.
Adzli said the suspect is believed to have taken advantage by issuing fake work permits and UNHCR cards to foreigners who were willing to pay between RM80 and RM250 for each document.
“In the operation, police also seized 40 passports, 10 mobile phones, four laptops and one fake work permit. Another main suspect, a Bangladeshi national who has four computer shops in Kulim, Sungai Petani and Butterworth, Penang, has fled and is being hunted by police.
“The results of the investigation into the seized laptop found documents related to UNHCR applications, blank templates and software used to modify and produce false documents for other foreigners,” he said.
Adzli said it was found that the syndicate used different identities on the passports and UNHCR cards, but the photos used were of the same individual.
“This syndicate is believed to have been operating since 2018. It was found to have brought in foreigners through the rat route to avoid detection by enforcement before preparing documents to enable them to work in the country,” he said.
Adzli said the suspects have been remanded until July 21 to assist in investigations under the Immigration Act 1959/63, while the police are also looking into further action including under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.
In related developments, Adzli admitted that there had been an increase in criminal cases involving Rohingya and Myanmar nationals with the majority of reported cases involving conflicts among themselves. He said his team was also actively combating migrant smuggling activities with 116 skippers and syndicate members successfully arrested since 2023.
