CHICAGO – U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers at O’Hare International Airport’s International Mail Facility have intercepted numerous counterfeit driver’s licenses in inbound packages. During routine inspections, officers identified counterfeit documents produced outside the United States that were likely intended for underage individuals attempting to fake their identity.
Counterfeit documents, like these fake driver’s licenses, are illegal imitations of official identification that appear legitimate but are not recognized by U.S. authorities. These fake IDs are often used by college students under 21 to gain entry into bars or purchase alcohol, putting themselves at risk of legal consequences and dangerous situations.
“By intercepting these counterfeit driver’s licenses, we are helping to prevent underage drinking and the potential deadly consequences that can result from it,” said LaFonda D. Sutton-Burke, Director of Field Operations for the Chicago Field Office.
Since the start of August, CBP officers in Chicago have seized 40 shipments containing a total of 1,020 counterfeit U.S. driver’s licenses. Only two organizations, the American Automobile Association (AAA) and the American Automobile Touring Alliance (AATA), are authorized by the U.S. Department of State to print international driver’s licenses. The counterfeit IDs were identified by their lack of fine line detail and other inconsistent features.
Sutton-Burke also highlighted growing concerns about the broader implications of fake IDs. Beyond underage drinking, fraudulent identity documents can be linked to serious crimes, including identity theft, immigration fraud, human trafficking, and even terrorism. By intercepting these counterfeit licenses, CBP is helping to prevent these documents from being used for more dangerous and criminal activities.–News Desk