PETALING JAYA: Immigration officers seized more than 100 forged passports and arrested three Indonesian nationals during raids across Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday (Aug 4).
Immigration Director-General Datuk Zakaria Shaaban said the operation targeted premises in Taman Sri Kuching and Taman Bukit Cheras, leading to the arrest of three suspects aged 30 to 50.
"Preliminary checks found that the alleged mastermind held a valid Temporary Employment Visit Pass (PLKS) in the construction sector, while the other two suspects had overstayed their permitted period of stay," Zakaria said in a statement on Wednesday (Aug 5).
During the raids, officers seized 119 suspected forged passports, comprising 85 from Indonesia, 22 from Myanmar, seven from Bangladesh, two each from Vietnam and India, and one from Nepal.
"We also seized a printer, mobile phones, and RM1,500 in cash, believed to be proceeds from the illegal activities," he added.
Investigations revealed the syndicate targeted foreign workers who had failed Foreign Workers' Medical Examination Monitoring Agency (Fomema) health screenings or were deemed medically unfit. The group altered the passports to allow ineligible individuals to bypass the medical screening process, charging between RM80 and RM130 per forged document.
"This is the fifth arrest involving a syndicate using this exact modus operandi, and investigations indicate the group has been operating since early this year," Zakaria said.
All three suspects have been taken to the Immigration Department headquarters in Putrajaya for further investigation under relevant immigration laws.
"The department will continue to take firm enforcement action against any activities that violate national laws to safeguard the country's security, stability, and prosperity," Zakaria added.
