Immigration officers at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport yesterday stopped two Turkish nationals who attempted to leave the country for Canada by using fake Belgian passports.

Immigration Commissioner Jaime Morente said the Turkish were identified as Yilmaz Aydogan and Kemla Lok who introduced themselves as Belgians but immigration agents noticed the passports they presented were tampered.

Morente said the two who claimed to be victims of human trafficking syndicate were intercepted at the departure area of NAIA Terminal 2 as they were about to board a Philippine Airlines flight for Toronto, Canada.

Aydogan and Lok, both admitted that they were Turkish nationals and the Belgain passports seized from them were spurious. They also turned over their Turkish passports which they hid it in their luggage.

Mariña said this was the latest apprehension of illegal aliens whose trips were facilitated by illegal syndicates attempting to use Manila as a jump-off point to enter Canada.

Morente said the apprehension was part of the Bureau’s continuing drive against human smuggling in the country.

He also reminded all BI officials to be more vigilant in monitoring and screening aliens who enter and leave our country.

He added these syndicates use highly sophisticated techniques in their effort to smuggle illegal aliens aboard. They should always be one step ahead to make sure that these syndicates won’t use our country as a transit point for their nefarious activitives.

Investigation showed the two arrived in the country as tourists using their original Turkish passports.

It was also learned both passengers had approved Electronic Travel Authorizations (ETA) as their entry visa for their trip to Canada, which according to the investigation, were fraudulently obtained through misrepresentation.

The two were detained at the BI Detention Center in Taguig City.

Previous article250 Camanava cops undergo surprise drug testNext articleMore rains expected today till weekend Anthony Ching