Lost Czech visa labels misused

Prague, February 1 (CTK) - Visa labels that confirm foreigners' long-term residence were lost from the south Moravian foreigner police centre in Brno last July, Czech Television (CT) said yesterday, adding that they have already been misues in China.

They pose a tremendous security risk in the hands of organisers of illegal migration, CT said, adding that the police inspection was investigating the case.

A visa label itself has no value, but in the underworld, it is of a tremendous value if it is not filled in, CT said.

As the visa label may legalise the stay of a foreigner, its handling is subjected to very strict rules, but they were probably breached in Brno, CT said.

As internal investigation at the Brno foreigner police did not find the culprit, the police inspection has been investigating the case since last December, it added.

The police have declined to publish any information on the case.

CT found that the labels had been abused in China.

"We know about the affair. We were asked by the Chinese authorities to check the authenticity of the visa labels. Along with foreigner police, we have informed the Chinese authorities these were fakes," Foreign Ministry spokesman Filip Kanda said.

An abused authentic visa label can only be uncovered in a thorough check, CT said.