The Johor Malaysian Immigration Department has detained a local man suspected of acting as an agent for a so-called “flying passport” syndicate, in a move underscoring the authorities’ firm stance against document abuse.
The arrest was carried out during an enforcement operation known as Ops Serkap at a condominium in Taman Daya on January 29, reflecting heightened surveillance efforts to curb organised immigration-related offences.
Johor Immigration director Datuk Mohd Rusdi Mohd Darus said the operation, conducted at about 6.50pm, followed nearly two weeks of intelligence gathering by his officers, highlighting the department’s proactive approach in tackling syndicate activities.
During the raid, officers seized nine foreign passports believed to have been used as travel documents for entering and leaving Malaysia. Such practices, he noted, raise serious concerns over border security and compliance with immigration laws.
“It is believed that the passports were used to obtain security stamps through irregular or illegal means,” Mohd Rusdi said in a statement, adding that investigations are ongoing to determine the full extent of the operation.
The suspect, a 44-year-old Malaysian man, was arrested under the Passport Act 1966 to facilitate further investigations, with authorities not ruling out the possibility of additional arrests.
Mohd Rusdi stressed that the department views any form of passport misuse as a serious offence and will not tolerate actions that could jeopardise national sovereignty or border integrity.
He also reminded the public to safeguard their passports at all times and not to surrender them to third parties. Members of the public with information on similar activities are urged to report immediately to the Immigration Department to assist enforcement efforts.
