The fugitive Israeli Mossad intelligence agent Zev Barkan has been dealing with Asian criminal gangs to obtain Australian and other passports stolen in Asia, a New Zealand aid worker has said.

Barkan has been named by New Zealand authorities as the kingpin in a passport scam for which two Israelis with Australian links were jailed for six months last week in Auckland.

"Barkan is mostly interested in passports and there have been a number of Australian passports."

http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/07/18/1090089038600.html