The Immigration Police found information in February 2019 of a gang making fake passports especially for foreign immigration working illegally in Thailand.
One of the gangs making these fake passports were arrested in Nonthaburi Province. After the arrest of such a gang, the demand for fake passports raised in a short period of time.
The arrest in February caused fear amongst other fake passport gangs.
These gangs relocated their base to the borders and into countries connected to Thailand including Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, and Myanmar.
The fake passports are being sent through post services and on vehicles traveling into Thailand.
Officials received information on 7 October 2019 that there will be a shipment with fake passports on a van from Mae Sot to Bangkok.
The police knew exactly which van was carrying the shipments but they let the van travel into Bangkok so they could point out who ordered the shipment.
The first suspect was a Burmese woman who came to ask if there was an envelope delivered in her name. This is when the officials revealed themselves and asked to see what was inside the envelope.
There were 4 fake passports. Each passport had been customized with numbers printed inside that did not match the passport stamp. The first suspect admitted to ordering the fake passports.
The second suspect was another Burmese who was staying in suspect’s 1 room for 5 days waiting for the passports to be delivered.
The first suspect then told the police she could bring in the 3 other suspects. The suspect contacted the 3 and informed them the shipment had arrived and to come to pick it up. When the 3 arrived, they were arrested on the spot.
Suspect numbers 3, 4, and 5 took the police to a room where suspects number 6 to 11 were arrested. Suspect no. 1 admitted that she rented a room, especially for illegal workers to hide while they wait for their fake passports to arrive. Suspect no.1 will order the passports through an agent living right across the border in Mae Sot, Tak Province.
The fake passports will then be shipped into Thailand through shipment services at the border.
