Article

2014-03-11 Southeast Asia

Thailand grapples with 'massive' fake and stolen passport racket

Archived material is restricted to Rantburg regulars and members. If you need access email fred.pruitt=at=gmail.com with your nick to be added to the members list. There is no charge to join Rantburg as a member.

Posted by Fred 2014-03-11 00:16|| || Front Page|| [1 views ] Top

#1 In the mid 70s, I was in Tangier (don't ask) and was in the Suq with a lady friend when one of the shopkeepers offered me $1,500 for my Official passport and $500 for my Tourist passport (How he knew I had an Official passport has bothered me for years).

He went on to say it was a thriving business in Tangier as many American students looking for good Hashish could sell their passports for more drug money and get a new one reporting the old one stolen. I reported this all to my superiors and got the "Sea Bee salute" in return for my discomfort with the market in US passports and the security threat it presented (this was during the Red Army Faction/Baader Meinhoff/Carlos days and it still bothers me...

I bet half the lost passports in Europe are either stolen or sold.

Posted by Bill Clinton 2014-03-11 15:19|| 2014-03-11 15:19|| Front Page Top

#2 I lost my passport in Germany in the 1970's. Interesting that I noticed the old American guy next to me at the consulate counter being catered too (poor guy! we understand how you can lose a passport) while I got the 3rd degree; it was obvious they thought I'd sold it (undoubtedly because of my age).

I wouldn't even know where to sell a passport, and have never been greedy enough to try it if I could have found out.

Posted by Barbara 2014-03-11 16:19|| 2014-03-11 16:19|| Front Page Top

22:35 JosephMendiola
22:23 Besoeker
22:21 OldSpook
22:13 JosephMendiola
22:10 JosephMendiola
22:04 SteveS
21:44 SteveS
20:22 Omavising Ebbemp9815
19:50 BrerRabbit
19:48 Besoeker
19:47 Omavising Ebbemp9815
19:46 Deacon Blues
19:40 JosephMendiola
19:32 Deacon Blues
18:53 Silentbrick
18:52 Glenmore
18:45 JohnQC
18:24 Omavising Ebbemp9815
18:13 trailing wife
18:02 JohnQC
18:01 SteveS
17:56 SteveS
17:46 JohnQC
17:45 OldSpook