Caught in Panama... Korean Passport Power at the World's Highest Level
A Chinese man attempting to enter the United States using a fake Korean passport was caught in Panama.
On the 22nd (local time), the Panama Immigration Office announced on Facebook, "A Chinese man carrying a fake Korean passport was caught and sent back to his departure point."
It was investigated that the man had departed from Quito, Ecuador, and was trying to transit through Panama. Initially, he had booked a flight to Amsterdam, Netherlands, and came to Panama, but it was understood that he attempted to change his destination to Miami, USA, while there.
Fake Korean passport of a Chinese man caught by the Panama Immigration Office (left)[Photo by Panama Immigration Office Facebook]
The Immigration Office posted a video and also revealed the fake passport the man was carrying. The video showed two immigration officers escorting the man, presumed to be the suspect, to the departure area.
According to the Immigration Office, foreigners attempting to travel to other countries from Panama using fake passports are being caught one after another.
On the same day, the Immigration Office reported that two Indians carrying Canadian passports with forged visa records were arrested. They were traveling from Istanbul, Turkey, to Cancun, Mexico. They were eventually repatriated to their departure point.
The day before, three Chinese nationals with forged UK visas were also caught. The Immigration Office only stated, "They were transiting at Tocumen International Airport." Their departure points or intended destinations were not disclosed.
Meanwhile, according to a survey conducted in January this year, the Korean passport ranked 2nd in the world in global passport power based on the number of countries accessible without a visa.
According to the Passport Index by Henry & Partners, a global citizenship advisory firm based in London, UK, the South Korean passport ranks 2nd alongside Singapore, allowing visa-free or simplified entry procedures to 192 countries. [Photo by Yonhap News]
According to the Passport Index by Henley & Partners, a global citizenship advisory firm in London, UK, the Korean passport allows visa-free or simple entry procedures to 192 countries, ranking 2nd alongside Singapore.
Ten years ago, the Korean passport was ranked below the top 10 in the Passport Index, but since 2018, it has maintained a position around 2nd to 3rd in the world. The Henley Passport Index has been ranking countries since 2006 based on the number of countries that can be visited visa-free or with visa-on-arrival among 199 countries worldwide.
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