Police nab forgery suspects, seize hundreds of fake documents in Mogadishu

Intelligence officers have Monday arrested three people alleged to have been involved in a forgery scheme in Mogadishu carting away hundreds of forged documents.

The intelligence officers attached to Hodan district in Mogadishu raided offices where the three suspects were operating from before parading them at the intelligence agency headquarters.

The documents included school certificates, land title deeds, government identification cards, and passports among others.

Banaadir governor Yusuf Jima’ale said the forgery was widespread and was a risk to national security since the fake government passes could be handed over to Al-Shabaab.

“Al-Shabaab elements could be buying these fake passports and easily get access into government installations or any other place they want to target for attack,” said Jima’ale.

The governor said his office had been dealing with many cases of double land ownership documents since some people decide to buy the fake title deeds from such places. “You get a case where two people claim ownership of land each producing what they deem as original documents,” added Jima’ale.

He said the government will launch sustained fight against forgery just as it is doing with Al-Shabaab.