US embassy cable - 05VILNIUS701

UNCLAS VILNIUS 000701 
 
SIPDIS 
 
FRANKFURT FOR RCO - BARBARA ARMSTRONG 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KFRD, CVIS, LH, HT45 
SUBJECT: PHOTO-SUBBED NEW LITHUANIAN PASSPORTS: A SPOT 
REPORT 
 
1.  Summary: The Consular Department of the Lithuanian 
Foreign Ministry recently informed us that its Embassy in 
London has been receiving large numbers of successfully 
photo-substituted new Lithuanian passports.  According to 
the MFA, the photo-substitutions are extremely good and 
can only be detected by specially-trained personnel.  End 
Summary. 
 
2.  Forgers have apparently uncovered a weakness in the 
security features of the new-generation Lithuanian 
passport, which Lithuania began issuing in 2003.  The 
biographic data page of the passport is a polycarbonate 
laser-engraved, laminated card.  The Consular Department 
explained that this card is made up of seven separate 
layers, with the top several layers containing security 
features protecting the layer actually containing the 
digital photo.  Forgers have uncovered a way to slice 
along the edge of the card and separate layers without 
disturbing the security features in the top layers.  They 
then insert a laser-printed photo onto a thin film, which 
is placed over the existing photo.  The layers are then 
glued back together.  The photo-substitution is virtually 
undetectable. 
 
3.  The Lithuanian Consular Department reports that the 
Embassy in London receives on average 40 such photo- 
substituted passports out of 80 in any given week. 
Detection is apparently possible with training and using 
special equipment.  We have asked the Consular Department 
for additional information about these fraudulent 
documents.  We also requested that it  provide our staff 
with training in detecting these fraudulent documents. 
The Consular Department agreed to do so at the earliest 
opportunity.  We will inform the Department promptly of 
any additional information we receive regarding these 
photo-subbed passports and their detection. 
 
KELLY