About 15 to 20 people travelling with fake or damaged passports are apprehended in Fiji every year.

Prime Minister’s Office Permanent Secretary Yogesh Karan says the fake passports were detected through the International Border Management System and INTERPOL.

The Immigration Department has direct access to the INTERPOL Information System and shares information on crimes, criminals and stolen passports.

“Now if any other countries at the border they find that someone is a person of suspect or is of interest then we will be notified and will be alert on our side.”

Karan says when an individual crosses our borders, the details are entered in the INTERPOL Information System in the 18 databases, allowing officials to immediately identify the person of interest through INTERPOL records shared by 194 member countries.

He adds people found travelling with fake passports are deported and the immigration department will continue to do so.

The Department is working with Police to enhance border security.