Malaysian Immigration Busts Fake Passport Syndicate, Three Foreign Nationals Arrested

KUALA LUMPUR, AUGUST 2026 — Malaysia’s Immigration Department has dismantled another fake passport syndicate with the arrest of three Indonesian nationals, including the suspected mastermind, during a special operation carried out at two locations in Kuala Lumpur.

Immigration Department Director-General Datuk Zakaria Shaaban said the operation was conducted at about 11pm on Tuesday in Taman Sri Kuching and Taman Bukit Cheras.

The suspects, comprising two men and one woman aged between 30 and 50, were detained following intelligence gathered by enforcement officers.

Preliminary investigations found that the alleged syndicate leader was holding a Temporary Employment Visit Pass (PLKS) under the construction sector, while the other two foreign nationals had overstayed their permitted period in Malaysia.

According to Zakaria, the syndicate targeted foreign workers in the Klang Valley who had failed or were deemed unfit during mandatory medical examinations required for employment.

The group allegedly modified or altered passports so the documents could be used to bypass foreign worker health screening procedures.

Investigators said the syndicate charged between RM80 and RM130 for each passport that was altered or forged.

Authorities believe the illegal operation had been active since the beginning of the year and primarily catered to undocumented or medically ineligible foreign workers seeking employment opportunities.

Zakaria revealed that the latest arrests marked the fifth successful operation against syndicates using the same modus operandi.

He said Immigration enforcement officers would continue intensifying intelligence-led operations to dismantle networks involved in document forgery and immigration-related crimes.

During the raid, officers seized 119 suspected forged passports originating from Indonesia, Myanmar, Bangladesh, Vietnam, India and Nepal.

Also confiscated were printers, mobile phones and RM1,500 in cash believed to be proceeds from the illegal activities.

The seized equipment is expected to assist investigators in identifying additional members of the syndicate as well as other individuals who may have used the forged travel documents.

Authorities are also examining digital evidence recovered from the mobile devices to determine the syndicate’s operating network and customer base.

The Immigration Department stressed that passport forgery poses a serious threat to national security and undermines Malaysia’s immigration and employment systems.

Officials warned that individuals involved in producing, distributing or using forged travel documents would face strict legal action under Malaysia’s immigration laws.

Investigations into the syndicate are ongoing, with authorities working to identify additional accomplices and trace the full extent of the network’s operations.

The Immigration Department said enforcement efforts against document forgery and immigration fraud would continue as part of broader measures to strengthen border security and protect the integrity of Malaysia’s immigration system.