IGIA: Transnational fake passport rackets busted
NEW DELHI: With multiple highly organised fake passport rackets disrobed, the IGI airport police have unearthed vast networks of transnational crimes. Operations against agents as well as foreign nationals engaged in forging and misusing Indian passports have arrested 23 agents as well as 19 foreign nationals.
The criminal syndicates exploited India’s porous borders, allowing foreign nationals from neighbouring countries to enter illegally and obtain Indian passports through forged documents. These fraudulent identities facilitated unauthorised international travel and were linked to broader crimes such as human trafficking, terrorism, and financial fraud. The misuse of Indian passports not only compromised the nation’s global reputation but also posed significant risks to international security and immigration systems.
DCP, IGI Airport, Usha Rangnani, emphasised the gravity of the matter while stating, “The misuse of Indian passports undermines the trust placed in our nation’s identity systems. Through meticulous investigations and sustained efforts, we are determined to dismantle these networks and ensure that those attempting to exploit our systems face the full force of the law.
One of the main successes was when, in March 2024, a Bangladeshi national, who was trying to go back from the UAE by using an Indian passport that was forged, was caught. During subsequent investigations, a well-knit syndicate operating out of West Bengal, fabricating identity documents for foreigners, was busted. This had resulted in the arrest of four agents and the recovery of 21 fake passports, along with blank government stamp papers and other forged material, Rangnani mentioned.
In another case in November 2024, a Bangladeshi national was caught while attempting to travel to Russia with a forged Indian passport. This led to the arrest of a key agent in West Bengal and the exposure of a network that used fake voter IDs and ration cards to procure fraudulent passports. Similar operations throughout the year revealed a wide-ranging network that covered states such as Maharashtra, Delhi, and Rajasthan, with agents and accomplices creating forged documents to enable illegal international travel, Rangnani said.
Foreign nationals from Bangladesh, Myanmar, Nepal, and Afghanistan accessed gangs to obtain forged Indian passports using fake documents.
Investigations revealed officials unwittingly issued IDs based on falsified papers. The IGI Airport Police dismantled these syndicates through digital forensics, document verification, and suspect interrogations. Collaborations with passport offices and awareness programmes enhanced prevention efforts.
