(WBBM NEWSRADIO) — Federal authorities say they’ve seized hundreds of fake driver’s licenses this month that were concealed within shipments moving through O’Hare International Airport.
From April 1 to April 15, officers for U.S. Customs and Border Protection seized 122 shipments containing 743 counterfeit U.S. driver’s licenses for use in states that included Florida, California, Texas and Illinois. The fraudulent driver’s licenses were hidden within handbags, jewelry boxes and toys, with most of the packages originating from China, officials said.
Authorities presume that underage people would have used the IDs to obtain alcohol or to be illegally served in bars, but fake documents can be used for other, more serious crimes, they said.
“Counterfeit driver’s licenses are used by young adults who have not yet reached the legal drinking age,” said Shane Campbell, Area Port Director-Chicago. “Not to mention the criminal consequences, CBP's interception of these IDs significantly reduces the chances for alcohol to be purchased by underage individuals and hopefully reduces the consequences of their actions, including deadly accidents.”
The fake IDs lacked fine line detail and exhibited features inconsistent with the real documents, authorities said.
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