News In Brief

Counterfeit passport ring broken up in Costa Rica

Costa Rican authorities have arrested 10 people and confiscated two printing presses as part of attempts to smash a large scale passport-counterfeiting operation, officials said. Scores of international terrorists may possess the false documents, which could be purchased for $900 to $5,000 on the black market in Panama, the officials told reporters Wednesday.

They added that thousands of Cubans may have used the false passports, which are virtually indistinguishable from legitimate ones to enter the US illegally.