BANGKOK: Thai officials say they have arrested two Pakistanis accused of forging passports that were allegedly used by transnational crime networks.

Department of Special Investigation chief Chatchawal Suksomjit said officials found fake and stolen passports, visa stamps and other documents for more than 40 countries during raids last Saturday.

He said Friday that two Pakistani men and two Thai women were arrested during the raids at a condominium and a restaurant in Bangkok.

Chatchawal said Thai officials received a tip-off about the syndicate from their Australian counterparts.

Authorities say passport theft and forgery is a critical problem in Thailand. The issue was highlighted when two passengers on a Malaysian jetliner that went missing on March 8 were found to be traveling with stolen passports obtained from a Thai resort island.