Investigations into a possible South Auckland passport scam have so far failed to trace any involvement of New Zealand passports, Internal Affairs spokesman Tony Wallace said today.
But the joint police-Internal Affairs probe has raised suspicions that New Zealand passport holders may be involved, he said.
The investigation began late last yearafter Otahuhu police noticed an increase in the number of Indians reporting their passports stolen.
Sergeant Rajesh Jattan, South Asian liaison officer for the Counties Manukau police district, said police learned through informants that passports were being sold overseas -- for as much as $5000 -- through buyers approaching people in area.
"In some cases, people started getting greedy," said Mr Jattan.
"They would say they had been burgled, so then -- compliments of the insurance company -- they get a new passport for a burglary that never happened."
He said the "stolen" passports were not valid in New Zealand, but migrants could use them to leave their home countries, then rip them up before arriving in New Zealand and applying for refugee status.
They could also be used to enter countries that don't require New Zealand visas, Mr Jattan said.
So far, the passports reported stolen have belonged to Fijian, Indian and Pakistani passport holders, all with permanent New Zealand residence.
"Basically they are people from south Asia ... of Indian extraction," Mr Jattan said.
Police have not yet made any arrests because of the difficulties of distinguishing genuine cases.
But they have made the procedure for reporting stolen passports more difficult.
Instead of filling out a police complaint form, people reporting stolen passports must now go to the Manukau District Court and make an affidavit in front of a JP, then make a formal police complaint, which is investigated.
"I'd go to people's houses and they'd say, 'Oh, I've found it now'. All of a sudden, these passports would mysteriously appear," Mr Jattan said.
Police are urging people to be vigilant about keeping their passports and important documents in a safe place.
