Police say they nabbed two ringleaders capable of forging nearly anything: driver’s licenses, permits to carry guns, residency identification cards, (cedulas de residencia) for foreigners, even Riteve auto inspection certification papers.

Friday cops raided a San Sebastian apartment equipped with all the machinery necessary to document falsification. And the easy stuff, like those cited above, would only cost 45,000 to 65,000 colones for each counterfeit copy.

The cops were acting on tips and the investigation took only about a month and a half, quick work for OIJ. Also, arrested were some Nicaraguan illegals in the country, who were clients of the forgers.

When detectives raided the laboratory, they found an unexpected bonus — several clients were awaiting for their falsified papers to be finished. Police say that some of the clients were bus drivers.

This arrested pair are not the only ring to be arrested this year, reported La Nacion. In September, police raided a ring specializing in counterfeiting the new 5,000, 10,000 and 20,000 colon bills.

Last May, cops grabbed three gavilanes who were selling false passports, work permits and residency cedulas. (gavilanes is the slang term for folks who lurk around government agencies and offer to speed up or cut through red tape, often scam artists who take the money and don’t help at all).