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Fake job visa racket busted in sting raid

DUBAI - The Investigation and Control Section of the Dubai Naturalisation and Residency Department (DNRD) has busted a racket involving the production and supply of counterfeit employment visas and arrested the three accused, while the fourth is still absconding.

The racket emerged after a team from the Investigation and Control Section raided a house in Dubai, acting on a tip-off and under the supervision of Lt.-Col. Rashid Bakhit Al Jumairi, Assistant Director for Investigation and Control Section.

A customer, planted by the DNRD, approached the person in the said house and asked for an employment visa. The raiding party, with prior permission from the Dubai Public Prosecution, then swung into action, just after the illegal operator had typed the name of the customer on a counterfeit visa.

The raid resulted in the seizure of 23 counterfeit employment visas in addition to the passports of six Pakistanis, one Bangladeshi and one Afghani.

DNRD officials said the racket was run by a gang of four Pakistanis. Investigations revealed that the gang used to sell the visas at the whopping sum of Dh6,000 per visa. While two of the accused were arrested at the time of the raid, the third accused was nabbed subsequently.

The third accused in the counterfeit visa racket later confessed that he had played the role of the middleman by selling the visas, for a commission of Dh500 per visa.

Brigadier Saeed Mattar bin Bleilah, Director, DNRD, said: "While Dubai is committed to boosting further its image as the trade and business hub of the region, we have systems in place to ensure that illegal activities are curbed as part of our responsibility to provide safety to all residents.

"We have hi-tech systems that can detect any fake document and bring to justice all those who try to take advantage of our open system."

The fake visas were recognisable because of the low quality of paper, colour and the absence of security features that form part of the UAE visas.

Investigations into the case took a month, leading to the arrest of the three accused.

The Investigation and Control section is now coordinating with other law enforcement agencies to apprehend the fourth accused in the case, in an attempt to get to the bottom of the racket.

"I would like to compliment the team from the Investigation and Control Section for the prompt action and quick investigation that has led to the arrest of the three accused," said Brig. bin Bleilah.

"This raid should send a signal to everyone that while UAE welcomes people of all nationalities, it will deal harshly with those attempting to violate the rules."