Immigration authorities have dismantled a passport-forging syndicate known as the “Ofu Bhai” group, which had been operating for two years. The bust took place in a house located in Kajang, Selangor, last Friday, according to Ruslin Jusoh, the director-general of the immigration department.
During the operation, conducted at approximately 4:15 pm, authorities apprehended the alleged mastermind, a 38-year-old Bangladeshi known as “Ofu Bhai,” and his 40-year-old Filipina accomplice. The syndicate specialized in falsifying expired passports, offering their services for prices ranging from RM1,000 to RM1,500 per passport.
Ruslin Jusoh explained in a press conference that the syndicate’s modus operandi involved altering only the expiry date on expired passports while retaining the original owner’s information, aiming to deceive authorities. The falsified passports were then used to obtain approval from the Foreign Workers Medical Examination Monitoring Agency (Fomena), with fees ranging from RM600 to RM1,000 per document.
During the search of the premises, authorities discovered a computer, along with a stash of 211 passports, including 199 Bangladeshi passports, four Indian passports, three Philippine passports, three Myanmar passports, and two Indonesian passports. Additionally, they seized 31 passport biodata cover sheets, 144 Fomema documents, various forgery equipment, and RM16,000 in cash.
Ruslin noted that the alleged mastermind lacked valid travel documents to be in Malaysia, while his female accomplice was found to have overstayed her visa. Authorities suspect the syndicate may have other operations elsewhere, with most of their transactions seemingly conducted online.
The two suspects have been remanded for 14 days at the Putrajaya immigration depot for further investigation under Section 55D of the Immigration Act 1959/63.