STF busts fake passport racket helping criminals escape to Dubai

Lucknow, Jan 14 (UNI) The Special Task Force of the Uttar Pradesh police today claimed to have busted a fake passport and visa racket helping underworld criminals move to safer destinations in Dubai with the arrest of four people.

The STF said by using fake passports and visas, the gang used to send people from east Uttar Pradesh to Dubai via Malaysia and Singapore. ''Most of the people sent to Dubai were involved with the D Company and the gang used to work as a conduit for sending men and material to underworld don Dawood Ibrahim,'' said an STF official who was part of the operation.

The success came after the STF, with the help of Mumbai crime branch, laid a trap near Indraprasth shopping centre in Boriveli (West Mumbai) and arrested the four.

''Since security is high at the Mumbai Airport, the gang used to send its clients abroad from smaller airports, including that in Lucknow and Hyderabad to avoid detection,'' said the official.

He said all those arrested hailed from Mumbai. ''Their kingpin, Rathe alias Dada Sian, managed to escape...several women are also part of the gang which has its roots in East UP.'' Those arrested have been identified as Sultan Haider, Sami Joseph D' Souza, Julian D'Souza and Ashok Gowda.

''A case was filed against the gang by a person who claimed that he was duped of his money and was never sent abroad...we are working on the gang's links in UP and more arrests are likely in the coming days,'' the official added.

UNI NAB HS RN1933