13-12-2023 (KUALA LUMPUR) In a major operation conducted in George Town, Penang, the Immigration Department successfully dismantled a syndicate involved in the production of fake Immigration i-Kad cards, Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) cards, and counterfeit Pakistani driving licences. The operation, prompted by public complaints and concerns over the activities of foreign nationals in the residential area of Persiaran Mayang Pasir 5, Bayan Lepas, resulted in the arrest of five individuals.
Penang Immigration Director, Shah Inor Shahbudin, revealed that the operation commenced at 12:30 am on Tuesday, December 12. The investigation was initiated based on public complaints and ongoing monitoring of the suspicious activities of foreign nationals in the area, which had caused unease among the local residents.
During the operation, the authorities conducted checks on 33 individuals residing in 11 units. As a result, five individuals were apprehended, including one woman and one man from Myanmar, as well as three men from Pakistan. The syndicate’s hideout, occupied by Pakistani nationals, was raided, leading to the seizure of various electronic devices, such as laptops and printing machines. Additionally, the authorities recovered 246 blank hard plastic cards, three counterfeit passports, and equipment used for altering passports. The raid also uncovered 57 pieces of clear laminated plastic, a hard drive, and three mobile phones.
Among the confiscated items were five fake immigration i-cards, three counterfeit CIDB cards, and five forged Pakistani international driving licences. These documents were ready for distribution and use by the syndicate’s network.
All five individuals, aged between 30 and 50, have been detained at the Juru Immigration Depot for further investigation. The authorities are working to uncover the full extent of the syndicate’s operations, including identifying any accomplices and determining the scope of their fraudulent activities.
