Malaysian police say they have arrested an Iranian described as an expert forger who allegedly supplied counterfeit passports to terrorists and human smugglers, including suspects in a failed bomb plot in Thailand.
Seyed Ramin Miraziz Paknejad was arrested on Saturday in the capital Kuala Lumpur, said Ayob Khan Mydin Pitchay, deputy head of a special Malaysian police taskforce on counter-terrorism.
"He is a dangerous man. Driven by money, he facilitates terrorists, drug traffickers and human smugglers to travel with forged documents," he said on Wednesday.
"He was picked up for suspicion of being involved in forging passports and illegal provision of visas for those wanting to travel to third countries like Australia," he added.
Seyed Ramin, 45, allegedly provided forged passports to those suspected of being responsible for explosions in the Thai capital in 2012, Ayob Khan said.
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Five Iranian nationals are suspected in what Thai police have said was a botched plot to kill Israeli diplomats there.
The case was uncovered in February 2012 when explosives apparently detonated accidentally in Bangkok.
Two men are on trial in Thailand for attempted murder and explosives possession. One man is in custody in Malaysia, where he fled after the incident, and is fighting extradition to Thailand.
Two other suspects are believed to have returned to Iran.
The incident followed bomb attacks in India and Georgia, and saw Israel accuse Tehran of waging a terror campaign.
Ayob Khan described the arrest of Seyed Ramin as a "big catch", saying he was a key figure in a major syndicate in Southeast Asia that smuggled Iranian nationals.
Seyed Ramin entered Malaysia last July on a forged Turkish passport, Ayob Khan said.
He will be charged in Malaysia and could be extradited to neighbouring Thailand where he is wanted, Ayob Khan added.
