Seven Georgians who arrived in Tonga on September 22 with allegedly stolen Greek passports, were arrested today and charged with dealing with forged documents. They are to appear at the Nuku'alofa Magistrate’s Court on Monday, October 10.

The seven accused had reportedly arrived in Tonga using stolen Greek passports, on September 22.

Acting Police Commissioner Viliami ‘Unga Fa’aoa said this afternoon that police executed a search warrant today at their accommodation and arrested them.

Seven Georgian passports were also seized in the search, as the alleged genuine identity documents.

A police investigation ‘Operation Kingfisher’ started on September 29, after the matter was referred from the New Zealand Immigration Office.

Tonga Police then engaged with Interpol and confirmed that the Greek passports were reported to have been stolen earlier this year and had been altered with false identities.

The Police Passport Taskforce investigation is continuing.