By DARREL MAGER and JOHN ANDREWS
An organised crime syndicate trading in human cargo corrupted "soft touch" New Zealand officials to help run their multimillion-dollar operation, investigators say.
The Auckland-based group - busted open in a series of early morning raids yesterday - has spent five years smuggling more than 1000 people into New Zealand, according to police.
The Middle Eastern ringleaders, described as "ghosts" with multiple identities, forced many refugees and immigrants into crime to pay debts for false travel documents. Some are believed to have been pressed to smuggle drugs.
Detectives became aware of the group - known as the Sawar Syndicate - three months ago.
Yesterday, 40 officers swooped on more than 20 homes and businesses across Auckland, arresting three key players.
Two men and a woman, from Iran and Afghanistan, are due to appear in the Waitakere District Court today on fraud charges.
Police are still hunting about 20 other syndicate members, some of whom are New Zealand citizens.
Police intelligence sources told the Herald yesterday that there were strong suggestions that the syndicate had targeted New Zealand officials, corrupting and enticing them to aid their criminal activity.
It was not clear which Government departments were involved.
The syndicate is also believed to be involved in large-scale international drug trafficking, counterfeit-currency distribution and producing fake passports.
Police said immigrants from the Middle East, Africa, Asia and Pacific Rim countries paid up to $30,000 for altered, fake or stolen travel documents, visas and passports, which they then used to get into New Zealand and Australia.
More than 1000 people - possibly thousands - are believed to have been brought here by the group.
The officer in charge of the police operation, Detective Sergeant Craig Turley, from Henderson, said those who could not pay were forced into a life of crime, working for the syndicate until their debt was repaid.
"The syndicate is living off these people. It's a multimillion-dollar business.
"In most cases these people are refugees who have already suffered horrific experiences in their home countries. They have managed to travel to what they deem to be a safe destination and in getting there they have had a debt placed over their heads ... We believe some have been forced to smuggle drugs between countries."
Those entering New Zealand had mostly flown in, but hundreds had apparently entered Australia - the more popular destination - by boat.
Detective Sergeant Turley said Auckland police came across the group after investigating a report about a stolen passport.
Immigration Service spokesman Ian Smith said the service would review the file status of anyone suspected of using false syndicate documents.
Police are still searching for the machinery believed to have been used in counterfeiting money and travel documents.
Detective Sergeant Api Fiso, acting chief of the National Bureau of Criminal Intelligence, said that while ring members showed little sign of wealth, their scheme suggested organised crime and money laundering.
Leaders continued to profit from people smuggling because their customers believed threats to kill them were real.
They treated New Zealand as a prime destination, he said, and "perceive New Zealand borders to be lax and a way of making a quick buck."
"Our legislation is weak compared to Australia. They tightened theirs up with the threat of boat people."
AdvertisementAdvertise with NZME.
Latest from New Zealand
What are Waikato councils proposing in their LTPs?
Councils across New Zealand started their Long Term Plan discussions.