NRD Investigations and Enforcement director Mohamad Yusri Hashim said the six-hour operation, which began with the raid on a hotel room, busted a fake identity card syndicate active in Tawau, Semporna and Lahad Datu.

“We arrested two masterminds who are locals, aged 50 and 44, and a 30-year-old Filipino woman, believed to be the one who took photographs and fingerprints of applicants for fake MyKads,” he told reporters after the operation ended early today.

They also seized 29 fake MyKads, fake US$17,100, fake RM200, RM3,839, two vehicles, a Naza Citra and Proton, as well as equipment to take the fingerprints of the applicants.

“We also seized bank cards, driving licences, eight mobile phones, a book containing up to 500 names of fake MyKad applicants and bank receipts worth tens of thousands.”

Yusri said the raid in Kampung Tanjung Batu led to the arrest of a family of seven, including twins, who are believed to be agents of the fake identity card syndicate.

“All those arrested are Indonesians and consist of four men and three women aged between 20 and 60,” he added.

The operation last night followed the arrest of seven people, including three agents of a fake identity card syndicate, in Sandakan last month.