Passports forgers captured: Passports forgers for illegal migrant workers seized

At 2 PM On December 9, 2024, a joint security team at Myanmar-Thailand Friendship Bridge in Myawaddy, Kayin State, intercepted a group of individuals led by Thet Nanda Win attempting to cross from Myawaddy to Mae Sot in Thailand using temporary border crossing permits (TBP).

The group comprised of 11 Myanmar Youths including Ma Hnin Ei Phyu and three young women from Taungdwingyi Township. The group was found in possession of 11 counterfeit Myanmar passports.

After questioning, it was discovered that Managing Director  Nwe Ni Hlaing Min and Director  Khin Maung Shwe (also known as Bala) from the One Asia Employment Agency in Kyauktada Township in Yangon had arranged for the issuance of the counterfeit passports for 9 of 11, charging each individual 8 million kyats in exchange for providing them with false documents.

Furthermore, Managing Director  Su Myat (alias) Su Myat Nanda Win from Lyan Htet Travel Agency in Kyauktada Township in Yangon had arranged for the issuance of the counterfeit passports for Maung Kyaw Min Htun and other one charging each individual 7 million kyats. Nwe Ni Hlaing Min, Bala and Su Myat involved in facilitating the illegal migration of workers to Malaysia through a network of counterfeit Myanmar passports.

Myawaddy Police Station filed lawsuit against them to take legal action.During investigations, it was revealed that Nwai Ni Hlaing Min, Bala, Wunna Zaw (aka) Ko Pauk from Lyan Htet Travel Agency, Nyo Min, John Ko Ko (aka) John Ko and his father Tun Yi, Sann Win (aka) Raphil, and Thant Zin Oo were directly involved in organizing the illegal migration scheme.

They had collected workers desiring to go to Malaysia by offering them jobs and charging them fees of 8 million kyats each, while arranging for the creation of counterfeit passports. The workers were then transported from Yangon to Myawaddy, from where they would be sent illegally through Thailand to Malaysia.

Once in Thailand, they would be provided with work permits (fake Bathcards) and transported to various locations in Malaysia.Through the efforts of the Myanmar Police, investigations led to the identification of other perpetrators involved in creating and distributing counterfeit documents for illegal border crossings.

It was further revealed that John Ko Ko had issued a total of 734 counterfeit passports ordered by 14 individual including Bala, and Su Myat. As of now, several suspects are still on the run and authorities are continuing their investigation to capture them.