A Sri Lankan man was caught at Taiwan's Taoyuan International Airport attempting to transit to Canada using a fraudulent Canadian passport. He was subsequently deported to Singapore and then to Sri Lanka.
A Sri Lankan national was intercepted at Taiwan's Taoyuan International Airport while attempting to transit to Canada on a flight originating from Singapore. According to Taiwan's Ministry of the Interior National Immigration Agency, EVA Air ground staff identified irregularities in the man's travel documents and alerted immigration officers, who subsequently determined through professional verification that his Canadian passport was counterfeit.
When questioned by authorities, the man initially denied using fraudulent documents and feigned unfamiliarity with the discrepancies. However, during examination, immigration officers noted that he could not answer basic questions about Canada, including naming its capital or reciting the national anthem. He also appeared unable to provide accurate information about the address listed on the passport. Faced with these inconsistencies, the man eventually confessed to his true identity as a Sri Lankan citizen.
The man revealed that he had paid US$10,000 to a smuggling ring to obtain the forged Canadian passport and arrange his travel itinerary. He stated that the arrangement was designed to conceal his identity and facilitate illegal entry into Canada for employment purposes. He claimed the funds were borrowed from relatives and friends, and pleaded with officers to allow him to continue his journey.
Following international protocols, the man was deported to Singapore, his previous transit point. Singapore's Immigration & Checkpoints Authority confirmed he arrived in Singapore on August 11 and departed on August 13, before being returned from Taiwan on August 14. He was subsequently deported to Colombo, Sri Lanka on the same day and banned from re-entering Singapore.
