Monday, March 12, 2007
The gang was charging between Dh3,000 and Dh5,000 for arranging the passports and other documents of some African countries, including Somalia.
The accused, identified as L. A. (32), M. (41), M.l and K. H (35), used to procure the visa permits, on demand, on fake names.
Speaking to Khaleej Times, Major Abdullah Saif, head of the Investigation Section at Ajman Police, said they had got a tip-off about the gang, after which they had started working to nab them.
The police laid a trap by sending some women to the gang asking to arrange for fake passports. The police team then raided an apartment in Al Karama area, and nabbed the gang members red-handed.
The police have confiscated many papers used by the gang in committing forgeries.
During the raid on the apartment, the police also nabbed eight women who did not have any IDs or documents with them.
During interrogation, the gang members, who were all in possession of valid residence visas, confessed to forging a large number of passports, particularly of women, who intended to enter the country an fake passports from countries like Ethiopia and Eritrea.
The case has been referred to the Public Prosecution.
Major Saif told Khaleej Times that this was the second Somalian gang nabbed for forging documents in the last two years. The first such gang, arrested last year, comprised four Somalians who were involved in erasing original entries in passports, and inscribing other names and personal information.
Source: Khaleej Times, Mar 12, 2007