Immigration Dept busts 2 syndicates over illegal foreigner pass renewals

New Straits Times

12-07-2025

KUALA LUMPUR: The Immigration Department has dismantled two syndicates suspected of illegally managing Temporary Employment Visit Pass (PLKS) renewals for foreigners.
Its director-general, Datuk Zakaria Shaaban, said the department mounted two operations in Kuala Lumpur on Thursday, resulting in the arrest of six people.
In the first operation at a premise in Jalan Pudu at 12.05pm, three Bangladeshi men, aged between 40 and 50 years old, were arrested following two weeks of surveillance and public tip-offs.
"One of them is believed to be the main mastermind of the syndicate known as 'Zakeer', while the other two acted as middlemen," Zakaria said in a statement.
He said all three suspects held valid PLKS in the construction sector.
However, investigations revealed they had been targeting foreigners in the Klang Valley looking to renew their permits, charging between RM2,500 and RM6,000 per application.
"The team also seized 130 Bangladeshi passports, three Indonesian passports and three mobile phones from the premises.
"The syndicate is believed to have been operating for about a year," he said.
All three suspects were taken to the department's headquarters in Putrajaya for further investigation, while another Bangladeshi man was issued a notice to assist in the probe.
Later that evening, at 7.09pm, another special operation was carried out in Ampang Baru, leading to the arrest of two Pakistanis and a Myanmar national, believed to be involved in a different syndicate known as 'Shaheed'.
"These suspects, aged between 33 and 43, were also acting as middlemen, offering permit-related services to foreigners in the Klang Valley.
"They charged between RM80 and RM500 for each transaction," Zakaria said.
Initial checks found that one Pakistani suspect held a valid PLKS under the cleaning sector, while the other had overstayed in the country.
The Myanmar national possessed a United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees card.
The enforcement team also seized one Pakistani, one Vietnamese, one Myanmar, one Bangladeshi and one Sri Lankan passport, along with 24 fake 'Malaysia Pass' (Malpass) stickers and five mobile phones.
Zakaria said all suspects were taken to the Immigration Department headquarters for further action.