The Enforcement Directorate (ED) is investigating a significant fake passport racket in West Bengal, tracing seven Pakistani nationals who allegedly acquired fake Indian passports through a syndicate led by Indu Bhusan Halder. Arrested last week, Halder reportedly facilitated around 250 passports, earning approximately Rs 2 crore, often on recommendations from arrested intermediary Azad Mullick. The ED’s probe, which initially stemmed from the West Bengal Police’s earlier investigations, has uncovered a network linked to money laundering and illegal immigration, with a chargesheet naming 130 accused, including numerous illegal Bangladeshi infiltrators. This case underscores ongoing challenges in border security and the necessity for stringent measures to combat identity fraud, highlighting the critical importance of national security in an increasingly interconnected world.