Passport applicants in Malawi are reportedly being charged as much as K600,000 by fraudsters and middlemen, despite the official passport fee being K50,000.
The Department of Immigration and Citizenship Services says it is investigating a passport fraud syndicate involving doba-dobas and some individuals suspected to be working with immigration officers.
Department spokesperson Pasqually Zulu says some applicants have been defrauded of between K300,000 and more than K600,000 in their attempt to obtain passports.
Zulu says investigations have reached an advanced stage, with some suspects already in custody.
He says the department has evidence suggesting that some middlemen involved in the malpractice may be working with officers within the immigration system.
“Doba-dobas” and individuals linked to various social media platforms are among those already arrested, as investigations continue to uncover the full extent of the malpractice.
The department has since urged passport applicants to make all payments directly at Immigration Department premises and designated passport processing centres.
Zulu has warned that anyone found involved in passport-related fraud will face the law.
